,£& 



, MatheaDible bias 

STORY OF A MOVEMENT FOR WOKEN 



What it Means 
) How it Works 
The Secret Service 
The Constitution 



MARSHALL A. HUDSON 



V 




flare BS4Q^ 
Book J±£_ 



GopyrightN 



.10 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



The Philathea Bible Class 



The Story of a Movement for Women 



What it Means 
How it Works 
The Secret Service 
The Constitution 
The Teacher 



By 
Marshall A. Hudson 

Author of the Baraca "How" Book for Men. 



Also a chapter on 

The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

By Henrietta Heron 

Vice-President of the World-Wide Baraca and Philathea Union 
Editor of the Adult Bible Class Monthly Teacher 



*B» 



The Sunday School Times Company 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



i 



*<& 



■v J $ 



Copyright, 1914, 

BY 

Marshall A. Hudson 



DEC 3i 1914 



GI.A391193 



CONTENTS 

THE PHILATHEA BIBLE CLASS 
The Story of a Movement for Women 

PAGE 

What It Means 9 

How It Works 37 

The Secret Service 57 

The Constitution 77 

The Adult Bible Class Teacher 93 

Helps for Classes 133 




WHAT IT MEANS 



What It Means 

MANY churches in all the denominations 
have at the present time "caught the 
vision," and to-day most up-to-date churches 
have organized Bible classes for young women 
and girls. Over five hundred thousand Phila- 
theas are registered in a national organization 
of these classes in a great organization with the 
Baracas, called the World-Wide Baraca and 
Philathea Union, Incorporated. 

These classes are found in every Protestant 
denomination, and form a great organization of 
over one million men and women. The young 
women's Philathea Bible class has grown to 
nearly one-half of that number, although it was 
formed three years later than the young men's 
Baraca Bible class. Many churches have one 
or more Philathea classes, grouping these schol- 
ars of the same age, as nearly as possible, and 
naming them the "Sunshine" Philatheas, "Dor- 
cas" Philatheas, and the Inter-M or Junior 
classes. Many classes already formed in our 
churches, but not fully organized, adopt our 
9 



The Philathea Bible Class 

constitution, putting their present name before 
the word Philathea, and apply for a charter 
from the National Union at Syracuse, N. Y,, 
which entitles them to all the helps issued by 
the Union, the monthly paper, and the privilege 
of sending delegates to the National convention 
each year of the World-Wide Baraca-Philathea 
Union, Incorporated. 

The Platform of the Philathea Bible classes is 
"Young Women at work for Young Women, all 
standing by the Bible, the Sunday-school and 
the Church." The motto chosen as a National 
motto is "We do things," supplementing it by 
a year text which reads, "I can do all things 
through Christ which strengtheneth me," and a 
slogan which shows the aim of the class, "A 
Million Young Women for Christ," 

While the Philathea Bible class is essentially 
a class for the study of the Bible in the Sunday- 
school, and at the Sunday-school hour, and 
under the control of the Sunday-school officials, 
it also calls for other activities to accomplish 
this object outside of the Sunday-school, thus 
becoming a recruiting station of the Sunday- 
school among the indifferent and unchurched 

TO 



What It Means 

young women and girls of the community, To 
do this requires a strong organization and an 
intense "class spirit." 

The organization consists of a constitution, 
which has been adopted by the National organ- 
ization and which is so flexible that it can be 
altered to fit any denominational school or any 
conditions. The essentials of this constitution 
include the name, platform, motto, and the 
election of officers and appointment of com- 
mittees for the upbuilding of a strong social life, 
a firm organization, and an intense spiritual life, 

As said before, the Philathea class was born 
three years after the Baraca class for men, and 
was the outcome of a desire to reach the women 
of the First Baptist Church in Syracuse, N. Y., 
in a similar class to the B'araca class, which had 
done such splendid work. The Baraca class was 
formed in 1890 and the first class formed has a 
record of over 500 men who have since joined 
that church. The Philathea class was organ- 
ized in this same church, in 1893, with very 
nearly the same constitution, officers, and com- 
mittees, only under different names and forms 
of work best suited for the work of young women. 
11 



The Philathea Bible Class 

The history of that class has been phenomenal; 
over three hundred women have joined their 
church from this first class. To-day this church 
numbers nearly two thousand members and 
has built a fine Temple, costing over $350,000. 

These classes are now found in every state 
in the Union and many foreign countries, and 
the work is translated into the Spanish, Italian, 
and Japanese languages. Many of our mis- 
sionaries are getting the vision of this work and 
are planting Philathea classes on the foreign 
field, where it, with the Men's Baraca class, is 
doing a good work. 

The name Philathea was coined by the Pastor, 
the Rev. Thos. J. Villers, D. D., and means, 
"Lovers of Truth." It was the thought of the 
young women to select a name, as did the Baraca 
class, which would cause those hearing it to ask 
what it meant, and to become interested in it 
before they knew what the name indicated, 
and that this would afford an opportunity to 
give them an invitation to join. Mr. Villers 
coined the word from two Greek words, "Philos," 
meaning lover, and "Alethia," which means 
"Truth," the terms Jesus used when he said, 

12 



What It Means 

"Thy Word is truth." Philathea is pronounced, 
Phil-a/the-a, the accent being put on the second 
syllable, and the "a" being long as in "date," the 
last "a" having the sound of that letter as in "ah" 
(somewhat shortened). 

Miss May Hudson, daughter of the founder 
of the World-Wide Baraca, was one of the first 
Presidents of the World-Wide Philathea Union, 
which later merged with the World-Wide Baraca 
Union under its present organization. Under 
her administration nearly iooo classes were 
formed. 

How to Form 

To form a young women's Philathea Bible 
class, literature should be secured of the World- 
Wide Baraca-Philathea Union, Syracuse, N. Y. 
This Union will supply free to any one applying 
its constitution and the leaflets to keep the class 
at work. In forming this class, a few of the most 
interested should be gathered together for con- 
sultation, and with the pastor's and superin- 
tendent's advice a list of the available young 
women of the community should be made, and 
13 



The Philathea Bible Class 

another meeting held quite soon, to which these 
should be invited. This meeting can be held in 
a social manner and the work explained and 
talked up by some one who is posted, or some 
live member of a neighboring Philathea class, or 
the Philathea State Secretary of your state, 
who could be secured at slight expense. 

The constitution should be read and thor- 
oughly gone over at this meeting and changed 
to meet the conditions of the new class. A 
set of by-laws can be arranged afterward for the 
local needs by a committee appointed at this 
meeting. A committee should be appointed at 
this meeting for the purpose of securing a stated 
number of charter members who are to report 
at the Sunday-school the next Sunday for the 
first lesson, which should be the same lesson as 
taught in the Sunday-school, preferably one of 
the International lessons. At the Sunday service 
a notice should be given, stating that the charter 
membership list will be open for new charter 
members up to a stated time. At the expira- 
tion of this time a social hour should be held 
some time during the week, inviting all the 
charter members and also those whom it is 



What It Means 

desirable to ask to join the class. At this meet- 
ing the constitution should be adopted, the 
officers elected, and the committees appointed. 
(For convenience we have put the constitution 
on the last pages of this book, but copies of it 
and other literature can be had by application 
at Philathea Headquarters, Syracuse, N. Y.) 

At the meeting of the class with the Sunday- 
school the next Sunday the President should 
preside. She should also preside at all business 
and other meetings of the class. The following 
is the order of service of the Sunday-school 
lesson hour: 

i. Call to order by President. 

2. Prayer, closing with the Lord's Prayer in 
concert. 

3. Philathea Song (when convenient). 

4. Passing membership cards by the Secre- 
tary and Assistant. 

5. Notices for the week by the Secretary. 

6. Any one sick or in distress. 

7. Collection by Treasurer. 

8. Lesson by the Teacher (30 minutes), who 
closes with prayer. 

9. Secretary's report of attendance to-day. 

15 



The Philathea Bible Class 

10. Treasurer's report for to-day. 

ii. Rise and repeat our National Platform. 

12. "Friendly shake service." New members 
and visitors welcomed, when every one is expected 
to shake hands with every one else in the room. 

13. Adjourn to closing exercises of the Sunday- 
school. 

J* 

The Charter and Business Meetings 

Immediately after the formation of the Phila- 
thea Bible class, the class should make applica- 
tion and secure a charter in the World-Wide 
Baraca-Philathea Union. This charter should 
be framed and hung in their room and will prove 
a source of inspiration to know and let others 
know that they belong to a National organiza- 
tion, which is increasing at the rate of 100,000 
members a year. A list of the officers should 
be mailed to the World-Wide Union and in 
return the monthly paper will be sent to all the 
chartered classes and also the following helps 
or similar ones: 280 Things the Philathea Classes 
can do; How the Senior Philatheas can help the 
Juniors or Inter-M's; How to maintain interest 
16 



y;liiin£ 1 ;rtlli l . 

"LJ 

llIiirDlll!^r|Hi!iathintlhuiTH 



, <ife if iMlffii'iT that 

ffi. it/,/,,//,,,, . H///J Y&M 




What It Means 

in the class during the summer months; The 
officers, committees and their duties; How to 
form a Philathea Bible Class; How the Juniors 
may succeed; What to do with an Indifferent 
President. 

Besides this, there are numerous other helps 
which belong to every chartered class and to 
which there are being added many every year. 
The dues of ji a year, after the first year, 
together with a list of the new officers elected 
for that year, will bring these new helps and 
the monthly paper free. 

Every Philathea Bible class should have at 
least one business meeting each month, except 
during the heated season, when it may be neces- 
sary to postpone it for a month or two. Even 
during the summer the class should have the 
meeting just the same, on the lawn or at a class 
picnic. At this business meeting the President 
should preside and call for written reports from 
each of the committees. The President should 
study some good book on parliamentary law 
and insist upon the meeting being conducted in 
a parliamentary manner. New business should 
be introduced at this time and every member 
*9 



The Philathea Bible Glass 

should be at liberty to suggest things for the 
betterment of the class. It is best that all 
business of a very important nature be first 
brought before the executive committee, which 
consists of all the officers and the chairman of 
each committee, a week before the business 
meeting convenes. A half hour of social life, 
consisting of music or refreshments, will add to 
the interest and pleasure of this meeting. It 
is found that all the successful Philathea classes 
are very strict in holding the business meeting 
monthly, and conducting it in the most business- 
like manner. Prospective members could be in- 
vited to this meeting to show them the business- 
like manner in which a Philathea Bible class can 
be successfully conducted. 

In the election of officers and teacher great 
care should be exercised in the selection of the 
President, who should be a person with some 
executive ability and power to plan, and with a 
conscientious Christian character, who can be a 
leader for the members in a spiritual way as well 
as in the social and business life of the class. 
The teacher should be elected after consultation 
with the Pastor, Superintendent of the Sunday- 
20 



What It Means 

school, or the Sunday-school Board. Under no 
circumstances should a teacher be elected who is 
not recommended by those in authority, as the 
Platform of the Philathea class not only says 
they are "at work for young women," but that 
they are also "standing by the Bible and the 
Bible school and the church." A strict adher- 
ence to this platform will bind them closely to 
the Bible class and the Sunday-school, and the 
church in which they are formed. 

The first Philathea Bible class was formed in 
the year 1893, with Miss Emma W. Thursfield 
as the teacher, who taught the class for seven- 
teen years. Over 400 women have been con- 
verted in the original class, over 300 of them hav- 
ing joined her church. Junior classes and other 
classes have sprung from this organization, and 
the school has prospered by their example, 
growing from a few hundred to over 1500 mem- 
bers, and the prospect is good for doubling 
that when they open their new six-story church. 
They have strictly adhered to the "Philathea 
Idea" of a strong organization, enthusiastic 
social life, and a deep spiritual work through the 
formation of the Secret Service, which is a dis- 
21 



The Philathea Bible Class 

tinctive work of the Baraca and Philathea 
Bible classes. 

The work has grown from this class to classes 
in every Protestant denomination and in nearly 
every city and village in the United States and 
Canada, and some in South America and foreign 
countries. United with the Baraca in the World- 
Wide Union, they stand to-day as the largest 
organization in the Sunday-schools of the world, 
numbering nearly one million members, and 
growing at a rate of nearly 200,000 a year in 
the two organizations. At the last National 
Convention it was reported that 24,000 members 
had joined their churches during the past year. 



How to Conduct It 

The official Philathea pin, as shown here, was 
adopted at the Jamestown convention, and em- 
braces the two pins formerly used by the first 
classes. The first pin used was a plain bar with 
the word Philathea in Greek letters. This was 
found to be a mistake and the crescent was 
added, but on account of the points in the cres- 
22 



What It Means 

cent tearing the clothing, the endless circle was 
put around it and is now the official Philathea 
pin of the world. It is made in gold-filled, solid 
gold, and set with pearls, to adapt it to the 




purse of all. It is worn in nearly every city 
and town in our country to-day, and is a stand- 
ing advertisement of the largest women's Bible 
class in the world, and is also a reminder to 
strangers that they are cordially invited to join. 
This pin has been patented, and can be used 
only by chartered Philathea classes. 

That the Philathea Bible class may have an 
adequate organization, it is necessary that every 
officer be assigned her proper duties. The 
secretary was given an assistant, whose duty it 
was to see that every member and visitor at 
the Sunday lesson hour be supplied with one of 
the attendance cards illustrated on page 24. 

These were gathered just before the offering, 
which was taken by the treasurer, and during 
the lesson hour or during the week the secretary 
23 



The Philathea Bible Class 



1 PHILATHEA BIBLE CLASS 1 

l • I 

g MEMBERS 8 

* Name A 

^ Address & 

^ \^ 

8 ATTENDED CHURCH. ft 

£ * 

>\ Sunday Morning & 

^5 Sunday Evening & 

55 Have Bible with me }& 

» ft 

* s 

$ VISITORS & 

^ (We are glad to have you with us.) \2j 

$ Name J* 

§ Address ft 

^» v| 

<^» Are you a member of any class? €? 

^ If you are not a member of any other class and would S| 

g like to join us, fill out the upper half of this sheet. & 

1 | 

?5 Baraca Supply Co., Syracuse, N. Y. «£ 



2 4 



What It Means 

entered them in the 1-2-3-4-book. The secre- 
tary, in marking these attendance cards, would 
mark after each name, under the proper date, 
1, 2, 3, 4 — if the scholar was present on that 
Sunday, 1; had attended Sunday morning 
service, 2; Sunday evening service for the pre- 
vious Sunday, 3; or had her Bible with her, 4. 
If she failed in one of these four things, the cor- 
responding number would be omitted from the 
Record book. In this way it could be easily 
ascertained at any time thereafter if the scholar 
went to church and how regularly. It also told 
if she were a member of the class, or a visitor, 
and if her Bible had been brought to the school. 
In this manner the class became of great help to 
the morning and evening service, as a com- 
mittee could get access to this record and cau- 
tiously invite the non-churchgoer to the "Phila- 
thea corner" in the church. The visitor also 
signs this card, and, giving her name and ad- 
dress, helps the visiting committee, so that she 
may easily be found and invited to come again. 
It is a good plan for different members of the 
committee to call on the visitor several times the 
first week. 

25 



The Philathea Bible Class 

This 1-2-3-4 Record book for the secretary also 
contains a place for the visitors' names and 
several pages for the minutes of business meet- 
ings of the classes. It is inexpensive, as are also 
the little attendance cards, and the book will 
last for five years in an average-sized class. 
The attendance cards are also printed on small 
coin envelopes, and can be used for the same 
purpose and in the same manner. Many treas- 
urers say that their offerings have doubled by 
adopting the envelope, although the cost of the 
envelope is a trifle greater. 

The Philatheas also have class songs, which 
are printed on single leaflets and also in the 
official Baraca and Philathea hymnal, which is 
used during the class hour and at many Sunday- 
school and church services. The Waco, Texas, 
Temperance pledges, which are supplied free to 
chartered Philathea classes, have been used 
extensively in the work. The Philathea Secret 
Service pledge, which is treated under another 
chapter, has also been distributed free from 
headquarters at Syracuse; over one million hav- 
ing been mailed to all parts of the world. 

The World-Wide Baraca-Philathea News, which 
26 



What It Means 

is the official paper, is taken in every live Phila- 
thea class and contains valuable methods and 
plans which have been tried in the different 
classes. The class colors of the Philathea class 
are a light baby blue and white, and are used on 
the invitation cards which are given out to 
strangers and left at the homes when calls are 
made. Pennants, banners and flags are made 
in these colors, besides other useful things for 
the home and class. 

The Philathea class, to be entirely successful, 
should have a room by itself, well carpeted and 
with attractive furniture. In this room should 
be the class charter, framed and hung in a con- 
spicuous place, together with banners, class 
pennant, and pictures of their own class and 
others as they can be secured. Some classes 
have pictures of the National Officers and the 
Pastor, and streamers of the class colors adorn 
the walls. 

The volunteer committee receive a list of the 
absentees from the secretary each Sunday and 
are expected to visit them during the week and 
ascertain the reason for their absence, and see 
that they are present next Sunday if possible. 
27 




The Philathea Bible Class 

Sometimes, during the busy season, the follow- 
ing postal card is mailed to the absentee, but it 
does not take the place of a personal call. 



YOUNG WOMEN'S PHILATHEA 
BIBLE CLASS 



DEAR PHILATHEA:— 

We are sorry to notice your absence last Sunday and 
while we feel sure you had a good reason, we cordially 
invite and urge you to be present next Sabbath. We 
have an excellent teacher and we know you and every 
one will be benefitted by coming. Do come and bring 
a new member with you if possible. Yours for Bigger, 
Best and Better Philathea. 

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, 

191 . . Class 

Member of Committee 

Wall cards are not an unusual thing in the 
Philathea Bible class-room, and are the means 
of helping the class in many ways. Some of them 
are beautifully framed, while others are merely 
tacked to the wall. They are inexpensive and 
are supplied at headquarters at Syracuse. The 
six most prominent wall cards are: 

1. What kind of a class would this class be, 
If every member was just like me? 
28 



What It Means 

2. Our National Platform: Young women 

at work for young women, all standing 
by the Bible and the Bible school, and 
the church. 

3. You are a Stranger here only once. 

4. Our National Motto: We Do Things. 

"I can do all things through Christ, 
which strengtheneth me." 

5. Do your Best, where you are, with what 

you have, for Jesus Christ to-day. 

6. You are Welcome. Come to the Sunday 

session of the young women's Phila- 
thea Bible class. Meets each Sunday 
with the Sunday-school. 
Many classes have Stout's Wall Map of Pales- 
tine upon their wall, and one member of the class 
is delegated to act as the geography of the class, 
and locate the place of the lesson each Sunday, 
giving information as to the size of the town and 
its surroundings. In many of the Philathea 
classes each visitor receives a celluloid button 
which bears the emblem of the class and which 
costs $1 per hundred from headquarters. Many 
of the Philathea classes have committees to search 
for strangers in the church service and give them 
29 



The Philathea Bible Class 

invitations to visit the class at the Sunday-school 
hour. These committees wear the Philathea arm 
band, which is made in class colors. These arm 
bands are also used at the meeting of the Phila- 
thea City Unions in the different cities, and at 
the National Convention held once a year. 

Many classes prefer to have original printing 
and use an electrotype of the pin, which is 
furnished at a nominal sum at headquarters. 
This is printed on every piece of printed matter 
issued by the class. "Red and blue" contests, 
and "Get one and got one" contests are used 
in every class for the building up of the class, 
and the getting of new members. The class can 
be divided into two sections, each section wear- 
ing red or blue contest buttons or Get One and 
Got One buttons, which are furnished by the 
class for this purpose. 

Many helps are published for a nominal sum, 
among these are : How the class helps the Pastor 
and the church; The Secret Service and the 
Dining Table Bible Class; Seventy-five Things 
a Philathea Class can do, and others are being 
published each year. 

The officers and committees of the class are 
30 



What It Means 

that portion of the class machinery that has dis- 
tinguished the organized from the unorganized 
class, and has helped the Philathea class to suc- 
ceed where so many others have failed. Most 
classes have, in addition to the teacher and 
assistant teacher, a President, Vice-President, 
Secretary and Assistant, Treasurer, Press Re- 
porter and Librarian. 

The teacher is expected to provide for a lesson 
of thirty minutes during the teaching hour each 
Sunday, and is ex-officio member of the different 
committees, but is not expected to do any of 
the work of the class which can be delegated to 
the proper committee. The President, together 
with the executive committee, which is composed 
of all the officers, is responsible for the successful 
work of the class during their term of office. 
Every class should have at least four standing 
committees: Volunteer, Membership, Social and 
Relief. Other special committees may be ap- 
pointed, such as the Secret Service, whose terms 
of office expire at the completion of their 
work. The standing committees are expected 
to make a written report at the monthly 
business meeting. The Volunteer committee 
3* 



The Philathea Bible Class 

is expected to meet strangers at the door of the 
church, and also members and visitors at the class, 
and give them a good hearty welcome and hand- 
shake, introducing them to the members, finding 
them good seats, song-books, and Bibles, thus 
doing all in their power to make every one feel 
perfectly at home. This committee often wears 
the blue and white Philathea arm bands. The 
Membership committee are practical and ener- 
getic young women who have time, ideas and 
tact, with which to approach other women. 
They should have a willingness to visit strangers 
and give them invitations, both printed and 
verbal, to visit the class at the Sunday-school 
hour. Printed invitations and calling cards are 
supplied at headquarters for this committee at 
a nominal sum. Their business should be to 
secure new members and look up the absentees 
who shall be reported each week by the secretary. 
The Social committee should plan for rally 
days, banquets, class dinners, and other special 
occasions. The Relief committee is an impor- 
tant committee and should be composed of 
strong Christian women who can look after the 
sick members of the class, arrange for doctors, 
32 



What- It Means 

nurses, hospitals, or the comfort of the sick. 
Flowers may be provided or needful necessities 
supplied. This committee should also look 
after the boarding houses of those who have no 
homes and assist them in getting good and 
profitable employment. This committee should 
be deeply interested in the unconverted of the 
class as they come in touch with them in their 
needs. 

The Executive committee can consist of the 
chairmen of the standing committees, together 
with the class officers and teachers, and the Pas- 
tor and Superintendent may also be considered 
as members. They should supervise all the class 
activities and are largely responsible for the 
spirituality of the class. They should introduce 
the Secret Service work, prayer meeting and 
all forms of evangelistic work. They should 
see that all the members wear the Philathea 
pin during the week and endeavor to help the 
women to the class, lead them to Christ, and 
into church membership. Many other commit- 
tees can be appointed to suit the needs of the 
class, such as the Temperance, Missionary, and 
many others, as the needs appear. 
33 



HOW IT WORKS 



^ T^ 



The Social Life of the Class 

PHILATHEA stands for an organized Bible 
class for the study of the lesson on 
Sunday in a regular Sunday-school, and under 
the management of the members, who have the 
control of the organization of the class. It 
also stands for a class which reaches into the 
homes and lives of the members and the young 
women of the community during the week, and 
touches their material being as well. It is found 
that the class which "never adjourns," but is 
active to accomplish these ends, and works 
every day in the week for it, is the successful 
class, and that most classes, under the name 
of Philathea, are doing things every day of the 
week. 

Young women desire organization, social life, 
and spiritual life, and look for it every day. 
If they cannot find this in the church or the 
Sunday-school, they will look elsewhere for it, 
and the Philathea class aims to supply these 
three great needs for which they are looking. 
The social life of the young woman is not by 
37 



The Philathea Bible Class 

any means to be overlooked by God's people. As 
every young woman knows, if young women can- 
not get the social life which they desire, they will 
take a grade lower. It should be the aim of every 
church and every Philathea class to furnish the 
very best social life possible for the young women 
of their community. To this end one of the 
departments of the Philathea class is to supply 
a high-class social environment, which will lead 
them to greater interest in a better life and also 
to the church. 

The motto of the Philathea class is "We Do 
Things," and it is an inspirational motto which 
carries the class to success. The "We" indi- 
cates the co-operative spirit, every member 
having a share in the work and a responsibility. 
The "Do" indicates actual accomplishment or 
plans carried through to a successful finish. 
The "Things"— well, it is about them that this 
section is written. 

The social activities of a class should be varied, 
well-proportioned and definitely related to the 
class, the school, the church, the community and 
foreign fields. They should be classed under 
three headings : those which sustain and increase 

38 



How It Works 

the membership of the class, those which meet 
the social needs, and those which develop the 
religious and spiritual life. In other words, 
these activities should have for their purpose the 
helping of others. The plans will be successful 
in your class to the extent you bring to them 
wisdom, enthusiasm, and consecration, carrying 
them out in self-forgetful service for the Lord 
and Master whom we love and serve. 

The following list is a compilation of things 
actually accomplished by Philathea classes, and 
although they have been successfully achieved 
by many classes, they can still be improved upon 
and used in other classes. It is supposed that 
every Philathea class has a separate room which 
is under its control and can be opened at any 
time during the week, that this room is well 
carpeted and furnished, that the walls are 
adorned with maps, the National charter, and 
has some of the comforts of a home. In this 
room many quiet little committee meetings and 
socials can be held, and from it should proceed 
a deep spiritual influence, which shall go out to 
bless the church in which it is situated. This 
room can be made the center of the evangelistic 
39 



The Philathea Bible Class 

work of the Sunday-school, and an influence can 
be sent from such a room which will create in 
its Sunday-school an evangelistic spirit which 
will be felt in every class in the school. Even the 
social life of the Philathea class can be made to 
bring these about as they strive to live up to the 
National Motto, "We do things." 

Among those things which have been tried in 
hundreds of Philathea classes and found suc- 
cessful, are the following : 

The Volunteer committee make a list of all of 
the non-attending young women in the town. 
They sometimes enlist the services of the whole 
school in forming this list, inaugurating and 
keeping up a definite and systematic campaign 
to win these persons to the class or to the Sunday- 
school in which it is working. They assign each 
name to some person or persons who are to be 
responsible for bringing these to the class or to 
the school as visitors for one or more Sundays. 
The other committees in the class are expected 
to make these visitors so much at home that they 
will catch the class spirit, and join. 

Some Philathea classes use the Smith Plan to 
win back the absentees or secure new members. 
40 



How It Works 

This plan is that seven members pledge to call, 
one each day in the week, to invite the person 
to the class, the seventh one calling on Sunday 
and accompanying her to the class, where the 
visitor is made welcome. In many classes the 
plan is to divide into sections of five, each with 
a captain, and each section strives to double its 
membership within a given time. This contest 
may be made quite interesting by placing upon 
the class blackboard each Sunday the standing of 
each division, and if thought expedient each 
division can be named after some person in the 
school or of prominence in the world. 

A good way to divide the class is into teams 
of two, to be known as the ''You and I"; "You" 
to be responsible for "I," and "I" for "You," "I" 
to receive a perfect attendance mark only when 
"You" is present, each one to take a friendly 
interest in the other and to report to right com- 
mittees in time of sickness, etc. "You" is fre- 
quently an old member, and "I" a new member, 
and the teams are to be changed frequently. 
It has been found a drawing-card for the Phila- 
thea business meetings to be held the same 
night as the Baraca business meetings are held, 
4* 



The Philathea Bible Class 

the business sessions to be held separately, 
uniting for a social hour afterward, each class 
taking turns in providing a social program or 
refreshments, or both. 

Many Philathea classes are constantly on the 
alert for the formation of at least five or more 
Philathea classes, either a Junior or Senior, 
during each year. Many organize them in their 
own school or community, or in a near-by rural 
school. If there is no Baraca class in their 
school, they see that there is one formed, and if 
the time is ripe for an Inter-M or Junior, either 
Baraca or Philathea, that is also formed. They 
give their assistance to these Inter-M classes, 
help them in their activities, use them as 
messengers, etc., co-operating with them in 
every possible way, training them to be efficient 
Senior Philatheas upon promotion to the Adult 
department of their school. Other classes try 
a double-up campaign, preparing a large chart 
of all the members with a blank space after 
each name, which is headed with "I've got mine 
and here's her name." A given time should be 
set for the list to be completed and rewards may 
be offered for the first five who double up. A 
42 



How It Works 

Got One and Get One contest can be run with 
this campaign, each member wearing either a 
Got One or Get One pendant, or the little cellu- 
loid red and blue contest buttons can be used. 

A trip to the next World-Wide Baraca-Phila- 
thea convention can be worked, using this 
contest plan, every new member to count so 
many miles of the journey. The side first 
"arriving" at the contest city, which is the con- 
vention city, should be privileged to choose the 
delegate to the next convention, the losing side 
to pay the delegate's expenses. An award can 
be made to the member bringing in the largest 
number of new members during the year. This 
award can be a trip to the next Baraca-Philathea 
convention. Upon the return of the delegate 
from a state or National convention, there can 
be duplicated the original program, reproducing 
the addresses, discussions and songs as nearly 
as possible. 

A good plan is to divide the class into twelve 
sections, one for each month of the year, each 
section to be responsible for a social gathering 
for their month, or for some special feature at 
the Sunday session. Each section can be asked 
43 



The Philathea Bible Class 

to raise a certain amount of money for the 
month it is in charge. A Philathea Sunday- 
Evening Service can be held with the co-operation 
of the Pastor, providing music, ushers, decora- 
tions in class colors, and a number of short, 
pointed addresses on "Young Women Working 
for Young Women." This is the time also when 
the celebration of the birthday of the Baraca- 
Philathea movement could be profitably cele- 
brated on the Sunday nearest to October 20th. 

It is an occasional change for the "usual mid- 
week prayer-meeting" of the church, and a sur- 
prise for your pastor as well, when the class 
meets and attends in a body, and many are 
prepared to take part in the testimony and 
singing of that service. 

In many Philathea rooms is a guest book 
with caretaker for it, who sees that every visitor 
registers, and that the names of those eligible 
to membership are turned over to the right 
follow-up committee. Be ready to give the 
Philathea grip to any one wearing the Philathea 
pin, which should be worn at all times and in all 
places. 

Class printing is an important feature in the 
44 



How It Works 

successful Philathea class, many classes having 
class stationery containing the class name, a 
cut of the pin or of the class-room or of the 
church, the class motto, its hour of meeting and 
location. They advertise in every way possible, 
using the church bulletin, the local newspapers or 
a class bulletin near the church entrance. A 
good plan is to receive the first Sunday of each 
month, in a formal manner, those who have 
joined the class during the previous month. 
At this brief service the class pin could be pre- 
sented and the class motto, class purposes, etc., 
stated, and the right hand of welcome extended. 
Each new member should be placed under the 
care of some well-established member for a 
certain period of time, seeing that these new 
members get to the social gatherings, and that 
they are called upon by other members and sup- 
plied with class literature, and invited to join 
the secret service or other work of the class. 

Yearly banquets of the Philathea class should 
be on an established date, perhaps the date of 
the class organization. At this time a menu 
card with toasts from different members of the 
class on different phases of the class work can be 
45 



The Philathea Bible Class 

given, with a toastmaster in charge. An inspi- 
rational speaker from some other city can be 
secured, or another class from a neighboring town 
can be entertained. Sometimes a "barbecue" 
supper, on some occasion when the town is host 
to some large barbecue gathering, can be served. 

Some classes have a tag day and small tags 
or celluloid Philathea pennants or pins are pre- 
pared. This day is advertised thoroughly for a 
week beforehand, that on a certain day the class 
will have their members stationed at various 
street corners tagging all who pass and claiming 
a silver piece in exchange. The purpose for 
which this money is to be used should be well 
advertised, that all may be in good humor and 
give gladly. 

An All Get Acquainted social is a good plan 
where you have a number of strangers whom 
you are wanting to interest in the work of the 
class. Announce that a silver piece has been 
placed in the hand of some Baraca and that the 
Philathea who first shakes hands with the one 
holding the money may claim the piece as her 
own. At this time the names must be exchanged 
between those who shake hands. 

4 6 



How It Works 

Class elections can be held on the plan of 
national elections, having two parties with a 
platform and their policy for the year to come. 
This will make election night the big night of 
the year, and can be followed by a public in- 
stallation of officers at that time or later. Lec- 
tures, both free and with an entrance fee, can be 
successfully carried on by a Philathea class or 
can be alternated each month by practical talk 
evenings, the subjects to be decided by vote of 
class. One class included such subjects as, 
"How to Choose a Good Husband," "Best Meth- 
ods of Maintaining Health," etc. A prominent 
speaker may introduce the subject and then 
throw it open for general discussion. 

Many classes have a "Hint" box in the class- 
room, in which may be placed questions or sug- 
gestions on class management. This box is to 
be opened and the hints discussed at the regular 
business meeting. A good plan is to celebrate 
all the birthdays of the members of the class 
and the birthday of the National movement on 
October 20th. The programs for the National 
birthday can be secured at headquarters free 
upon application in lots of 100, provided the 
47 



The Philathea Bible Class 

class will take an offering for the office building 
of the Union. 

Try a campfire fagot party in the fall. A 
corn roast can be held at the same time. Every- 
one is invited to bring a fagot or a piece of in- 
flammable wood, a souvenir from their summer 
vacation, and as it is cast into the fire some 
experience connected with the gathering of the 
fagot or of the summer vacation is related. Each 
one is to suggest some plans for the winter's 
class- work. Left-over Sunday-school supplies, 
literature, and Bible pictures are sent from 
some classes to the Rev. S. D. Price, Superin- 
tendent of the Department for Utilizing Surplus 
Material, 216 Metropolitan Tower, New York 
City. He will send it on to needy missionaries. 

It is a good plan to hold a series of meetings on 
what it means to be a Christian, considering such 
subjects as: 

(a) What is the Christian Life? 

(b) Why am I living a Christian Life? 

(c) How to best begin it. 

(d) How to win others to it. 

Conduct a young women's church attendance 
campaign for thirty or forty days. Printed ap- 

48 ' 



How. It Works 

peals, canvassing, personal calls for attendance 
on the church services next Sunday, and the 
church mid-week prayer meeting can be used 
in this campaign. Have a place reserved in the 
prayer meeting for Philatheas only, and have the 
visitors conducted to it. Have certain Phila- 
theas prepared to give a personal testimony or 
prayer so as to be of direct help to the meeting. 
On Review Sunday have the lessons assigned 
to each of twelve members, the remainder of the 
class to represent heathen. Each one of these 
twelve is to present the lesson as if for the first 
time to these heathen, anxious and curious to 
hear of the Christian Faith. Before the lesson 
some one can be appointed to tell the lesson 
story as he would tell it to a group of young 
women who had neglected church and Bible 
study for years. 

Some good subjects for debate are the following : 
Resolved; that foreign missions are as im- 
portant as home missions. 
Resolved; that a country-bred girl makes a 

better wife than a city-bred girl. 
Resolved; that teaching boys and men is a 
man's job. 

49 



The Philathea Bible Class 

Resolved; that separate Bible classes are 

more successful than mixed classes. 
Resolved; that capital punishment of crim- 
inals is not necessary to the nation's 
safety. 
Keep a class bank account in the savings 
bank of all money received by the class, check- 
ing out each payment as bills are paid. This 
can be a good place for a separate account 
where each member may deposit some of the 
savings toward the class pledge for state and 
National work, also for missionary purposes. 

A good plan to furnish a good class-room is to 
apportion the cost into a certain number of 
shares. These shares can be sold at so much 
per share, issuing certificates of stock as receipts. 
The most important part of class activity is the 
formation of the Secret Service. For this Secret 
Service send to headquarters at Syracuse, N. Y., 
for fifty or more secret service pledges, and 
literature which will help you in the formation 
of this service. One class using these pledges 
had over 300 conversions, and the end is not yet. 
The Secret Service can also conduct a ten- 
minute prayer service before the Sunday-school 

50 



How It Works 

or at other times besides the regular secret 
service prayer-meeting, which is conducted 
secretly. They can also plan to help the mis- 
sion Sunday-schools and conduct evangelistic 
campaigns in the neglected sections of the city. 

The girls of the Sunday-school should be under 
the care of the Senior Philathea class, and they 
should see that all the girls from twelve to six- 
teen are organized as an "Inter-M" Philathea 
Bible class. The literature and constitutions 
can be secured at headquarters. After this 
class is formed they are expected to watch over 
and care for the social and spiritual life of this 
class, and use them as auxiliary helpers in their 
work, thus training them for the senior class 
later in life. 

Local needs will teach many classes things that 
are necessary for that locality, and every class 
should be alert to find its place in the work. 
The following may be some of the needs that 
come to different localities: Have a class phys- 
ician, whose services can be called upon by 
needy members at the expense of the class, or 
maintain a mutual benefit association for the 
sick ones. Co-operate with the Juvenile Court 
51 



The Philathea Bible Class 

of your city, offering to look after the girls who 
come up before the court. One class was of great 
service to a girl of the street in one of these 
courts who wanted to begin life over again, 
and she was sent, at the expense of the class, to 
another state, received a college education, and 
lives a useful life. 

Conducting cottage prayer-meetings for elderly 
people and giving a supper and Christmas tree 
for poor children, conducting concerts at Old 
People's Homes or Rescue Missions, or conduct- 
ing a downtown lunch room where working girls 
can get lunches at reasonable rates and have 
privilege of rest rooms, and employment depart- 
ment. 

The Philathea room in the church should be 
open every evening for music, sewing, lesson 
helps, magazines, games, etc., and friendliness 
that can be enjoyed by young women. This 
does not serve as a full list of what a good live 
Philathea class can do, but may awaken in the 
leaders ideas which may be worked out to fit 
their own Philathea class, their church or their 
community. Common sense is a great factor 
in the fulfilling of the Philathea class motto: 
52 



How It Works 

"We Do Things." "I can do all things through 
Christ, which strengtheneth me." 

Many of the junior or Inter-M Philathea 
Bible classes can be of great service to the Seniors 
and to the Sunday-schools, and they are not only 
willing, but anxious to live out the Junior motto, 
"We Do Things." Some of the successful things 
done by the Inter-M classes are as follows: 

Taking turns in looking after the babies while 
the mother is at church. 

Helping dress a number of dolls and giving 
them, with various kinds of toys, to the poor 
fa mili es. 

Some of these classes carry flowers to every 
home in the town at which a new baby arrives. 

Some have charge of the Cradle Roll of the 
Sunday-school, the class president being the 
Cradle Roll superintendent. 

Visiting alone and in pairs, these enthusiastic 
girls made their visits to the little people, carry- 
ing news, cards and papers of the Sunday-school, 
and finally bringing the little ones as they grew 
old enough to attend. 

53 



THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE 
CLASS 



The Secret Service 

THE Philathea movement stands out pre- 
eminently among the various Bible class 
movements in a unique way which shows the 
mark of God's approval. From the start they 
have placed first emphasis upon meeting the 
spiritual needs of their members. They have 
a plan which is easily introduced into any 
class, and which is called the "Secret Service," 
which in a definite, practical and effective way 
ministers to their spiritual needs. This plan, 
which is co-operative with the teacher, puts the 
responsibility of the spiritual life of the class 
where it belongs. 

The first Secret Sendee formed shows un- 
mistakabry that it was God's plan to give this 
movement a distinctive way of not only train- 
ing its members in personal work and prayer, but 
in touching the lives of the unconverted mem- 
bers and bringing them to Christ. In the original 
class, which has grown to large proportions, the 
teacher became dissatisfied because there had 
57 



The Philathea Bible Class 

been no conversions for three months in the 
class. The work had been active in all other 
departments and the class was upon the high- 
ways of prosperity in every department but 
this, the most important one. Something had 
to be done. There was "the one thing thou 
lackest" in that class which the teacher saw the 
need of. 

Four of the active Christian members of the 
class were invited by the teacher to the pastor's 
study at the close of a class session and this 
work was laid before them. Every one was of 
the same opinion, and that was that a soul- 
winning campaign was what the class needed. 
All felt unequal to the task; their humility made 
them wise — wise enough to pray over the matter, 
and light came. When one follows the light how 
luminous the path becomes. One member sug- 
gested that if the five people present promised 
to do three things toward starting such a cam- 
paign it could be accomplished. Bach wrote 
something which he would promise to do, and 
after comparing notes the threefold pledge was 
drawn and signed by each person present. It 
reads : 

58 



The Spiritual Life of the Class 

MY SECRET SERVICE 
(Matt. 6 : 13, 14) 

1. I pledge to pray for the unconverted 
members of our Bible class every day at noon, 
or as soon thereafter as I remember this 
pledge. 

2. I pledge to make a list of those to whom 
I will speak, and to work and pray for them. 

3. I will meet the Secret Service members 
once a month, and pray aloud with them, and 

do all in my power to help bring 

members to Christ within the next six months. 

Signed 

Dated 



The very nature of this pledge required it to 
be kept secret from the rest of the class, and so 
it was named the "Secret Service." Upon the 
back of each pledge was written a list of those 
class members whom they wished to see con- 
verted. The key to the pastor's study was 
turned, and on their knees these members prayed 
for those whose names were on their list. This 
was on Sunday, and on Wednesday every Secret 
Service member felt the need of being at the 
church prayer-meeting, where, to the surprise 
and joy of every one of the Secret Service, one 
of the prominent members of the class arose 
59 



The Philathea Bible Class 

and gave testimony which was this: "I have 
felt all the week that I must make a surrender 
of my heart and life to Jesus Christ. I feel I 
am a great sinner and ask your prayers." This 
member's name was upon the list of each one of 
the Secret Service and after the meeting they 
tarried with the new convert, who joined the 
Secret Service band. 

This marked experience was interpreted as 
God's stamp of approval upon the plan, and from 
that time conversions began to multiply until it 
became a saying that to become a member , 
that class was to become a Christian. Since 
that day over 600 conversions have occurred in 
that class and over 500 have joined the church. 

The Secret Service has become a permanent 
feature of the Baraca-Philathea movement, and 
to-day, wherever a successful, powerful, Spirit- 
filled Baraca or Philathea class is found, we know 
that at the very heart of it is a praying band of 
men and women. There is no doubt but that it 
will work in any class. The experience for the 
past fifteen years teaches us that it is the essen- 
tial thing and the most vital of any department 
of the work. It is being used to-day in the most 
60 



The Spiritual- Life of the Class 

of the ten thousand Baraca and Philathea 
classes of the world and gives the great move- 
ment the spiritual uplift which so emphasizes 
this work above the ordinary Bible class. At 
the Nashville convention the reports gave the 
fact that over 24,000 members of these two 
organizations had joined their churches during 
the past year. 

This Secret Service shows conclusively that the 
secret of the great growth and permanency of 
the Baraca and Philathea classes are the direct 
result of their spiritual work. Every denomina- 
tion has these classes, and they are growing at 
the rate of 2000 new classes each year and now 
number one million souls. 

The formation and conduct of a Secret Service 
group is to be laid in much prayer by the teacher 
and those who are leaders in it. At this time it 
is well to talk over who are to be asked to join 
the Secret Service, which will require those who 
are consecrated Christians and can pray. If 
the class is small, two or three members may get 
together. Pray and talk the matter over and 
organize as a Secret Service. 

After one or two consultations, the Secret 



The Philathea Bible Class 

Service pledges are secured free from head- 
quarters at Syracuse, N. Y., and each member is 
requested to sign the same. The group are 
generally seated in a circle, and, all kneeling, 
they are expected to pray as their turn comes, 
going around this circle and ending with the 
leader of the meeting. In many cases a person 
is prayed for when the band is together, without 
the name being mentioned, but usually the names 
are mentioned in this inner circle. 

While the main dependence of this service is 
upon prayer, it is through right praying one is 
always led to speak to those prayed for, and to 
help them to a decision for Christ. No one can 
long pray for a person without feeling a great 
desire to help that one by the personal touch and 
word= Prayer is the main thing, and some mem- 
bers of the Secret Service in these classes have 
scores and hundreds of names which have been 
marked off from their list and brought to a 
knowledge of Christ. It may never be known 
who or what is the means of the bringing the 
one prayed for to a decision, and the Secret 
Service members need not be so concerned — it 
is their part to pray and trust God, and if they 
62 



The Spiritual .Life of the Class 

feel impelled by the Holy Spirit, as they usually 
will be, to speak to the one prayed for, they will 
have the courage to do so at the right time. 

The Secret Service members of the Philathea 
Bible class are expected to be ready to lead in 
prayer at any session of the class, though this 
is not a part of the pledge. They will soon find 
that this is a training school to train them for 
prayer at the church prayer-meeting and other 
various gatherings, and will lead them to be alert 
to do personal work, not only at meetings but 
in their everyday life. As new converts are 
coming all the while, it is a good plan to ask 
them to join this Secret Service. 

The class may not know who the members of 
the Secret Service are, as the plan is kept secret 
by those comprising it, although the class may 
know that there is such an organization in ex- 
istence. The members' names are kept secret 
and the ones prayed for also. While the main 
purpose of the Secret Service is to win men and 
women to Christ, the influence upon those in 
the Service and upon the class is immeasurable. 
It trains its members to pray secretly and in 
public regularly, definitely, persistently, watch- 

63 



The Philathea Bible Class 

ing for results. They know that the ''effectual 
fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much." 
There is nothing that binds persons together 
like meeting to pray, and it helps to form the 
strongest ties of fellowship. Every class having 
this Secret Service can testify that all friction, all 
jealousies and similar evils die a natural death 
as the Secret Service grows stronger. The 
class ceases to become a "peculiar class," and all 
bickerings and troubles seem to vanish away 
as the members unite to "seek and to save 
those that are lost." The devotional atmos- 
phere is brought into the class session and 
volunteer prayers become a part of the opening 
and closing sessions with plenty of those who 
are willing and anxious to do their part. Besides 
this the class comes to understand the power of 
Christ, and knows that it supersedes the limita- 
tions of time and distance and makes prayer 
the most practical work in which it can engage. 
The members learn from experience that they 
cannot pray without finding in the heart an in- 
centive to be doing. They also know that the 
quiet hours of personal devotion become the 
motors for class activity, and that time taken 
64 



The Spiritual- Life of the Class 

for prayer is a good investment and not wasted. 
The surest foundation for making the class ac- 
tivities effective is the Secret Service and prayer, 
and it generates a power in the heart which soon 
manifests itself in real holiness in each of their 
lives. 

Such a Philathea class as this will soon become 
alert to their opportunities. They will know 
that there are young women wandering up and 
down the streets and in the homes of their city 
who are scarred with sin and weary of it, waiting 
for the friendly hand and the personal touch; 
who can tell out of their own experience the way 
of life. They know there are scores of women 
in every community whose energies are being 
wasted and who can never be a power for right- 
eousness except as their hearts are quickened by 
divine love. Here is the opportunity for the 
Philathea classes, which as a chain encircle the 
globe. These classes have made their way into 
all lands, and who shall limit this band of Chris- 
tian women with their motto, "I can do all 
things through Christ, which strengtheneth me," 
if at the very heart of each class shall be found 
a Secret Service. As the watchword of the great 

65 



The Philathea Bible Class 

Christian movement of to-day is the "evangeliza- 
tion of the world for Christ in this generation," 
who knows but that the Baraca and Philathea 
classes have come into the kingdom for such a 
time as this? 

While the Sunday lesson hour of the Philathea 
Bible Class is the most important hour, it is also 
a necessary thing for this class to have other 
times and places in which to study the Word of 
God. A love of the Word should be taught so 
effectively on Sunday that it will lead to personal 
Bible study during the week. To do this it will 
be necessary for the individual members of the 
class to come in touch with each other at some 
hour during the week in some sort of plan for 
the study of the Word together. These meetings 
can be held either at the class-room in the church 
or at the home of some member, meeting around 
the dining-room table, each supplied with a 
Bible, and depending upon the Holy Spirit for 
the teacher. In hundreds of Philathea classes 
there is held what is called the "Dining Room 
Philathea Bible Study," or "Bible Club." One 
hour is long enough for this study, and it should 
begin promptly at a given time and continue for 
66 



The Spiritual Life of the Class 

one hour only, no matter how interesting the 
study may become. The members of this Bible 
club should be those who want to know more 
about the Bible or its books as a whole than is 
taught at the regular Sunday-school hour. It 
is well to gather in this club only those who are 
about the same in ability as students of the 
Bible, and it is not a good plan to have one 
person present who knows so much about the 
Bible that the others will be afraid to venture an 
opinion. The best teacher or commentary to 
be used at this time should be the Holy Spirit, 
and "He will guide you into all truth." 

A slight organization is necessary, and a 
president and secretary should be elected, and 
perhaps a leader. The equipment should be 
plenty of Bibles, pens and ink. It seems best 
to the writer that the first study to be taken up 
by a Philathea Bible Club would be to study 
one of the Gospels. Perhaps the Gospel of John 
is the best, and the fee for entrance to this 
Bible Club should be to tell why the Gospel of 
John was written, and where it tells about it in 
John's Gospel. In this way the member will 
sit down and at one reading may possibly read 

6 7 



The Philathea Bible Class 

the Gospel of John through before the reason is 
found. John 20 : 31 will always remain a marked 
spot in the mind of every member who joins 
this club. No one should be teased or obliged 
to come to this Bible Club, and any one who is 
not pleased with the study should be freely al- 
lowed to leave it at any time. It will be found 
that the club, instead of growing smaller in 
numbers, will constantly increase as the mem- 
bers become interested and talk to their friends 
about it. 

At the opening of each meeting it is well to 
ask for all sitting around the table to bow their 
heads and each one offer a short sentence prayer, 
for the Holy Spirit's presence as their teacher for 
the hour. Every member is expected to study 
at least thirty minutes upon the lesson, and the 
roll is called by the secretary and each member 
responds by the number of minutes studied 
during the week. A ten-minutes' normal course 
can be introduced here by the president, begin- 
ning with Genesis, and each one taking up the 
next book in order around the table until all 
the books of the Bible are correctly repeated. 
After a few weeks' time it will be found that the 
68 



The Spiritual Life of the Class 

class has grown familiar with the order of the 
books, and then they can begin to repeat them 
in reverse order, beginning at Revelation and 
back to Genesis. After these are thoroughly- 
learned, the books can be bounded; one naming 
a book and another telling what is before and 
another what is after. The divisions of the 
Bible can be learned at this time and a short 
normal course given in the twelve weeks it 
takes to study the Gospel. 

Following the normal work, the leader asks 
from the club where the Gospel of John was 
written, when, why, how, and who wrote it, and 
its relation to Christ. Opening their Bibles at 
the first chapter, each one reads a verse alter- 
nately, and at the conclusion the leader asks for 
some name that will tell what the chapter is 
about, or what is the main thought of the chap- 
ter, so as to identify it by that name. Begin- 
nings, Eureka, Findings, and other names are 
suggested, and the reason given why these names 
should be given the first chapter. In many 
classes the first chapter is called the "Findings" 
chapter, and that is written over the first chapter 
of John. The one naming it gave as the reason 

6 9 



The Philathea Bible Class 

for this being the best name that John found 
Christ, the disciples found Christ, Christ found 
the disciples, Andrew found Peter, and "they 
all found each other." Again the chapter 
was read verse by verse, and the twelfth was 
voted as the best all-round verse in the chapter. 
This verse was enclosed in brackets with a pen, 
and the class was asked as a whole for anything 
further that they had found of interest in this 
chapter. Some one suggested that Christ was 
called sixteen different names in this chapter, 
and as they repeated these names they were 
numbered in the Bible. A diagraphic map in 
blank was supplied to the class and in compart- 
ment No. i was written the name "Findings," 
the name of the first chapter, and V. 12 was writ- 
ten and sixteen names were written also in this 
compartment. (Illustrated on opposite page.) 

In this way twenty-one chapters were gone 
through in the twelve weeks, and the members 
learned the names of each chapter, and later, if 
any one of these members was asked about any 
chapter, they could readily remember by the 
name they had given it what it contained. A 
cross was placed by each miracle performed 
70 



The Spiritual- Life of the Class 

and numbered in the book. It was also found 
that the first twelve chapters covered nearly 
three years of Christ's life, and the last nine 
chapters were a record of about twenty-four hours. 
A heart within a heart was brought into the 
class, as shown in our diagram, and we were 
told that the sixteenth verse, which was written 
in the inner heart, was the best verse in the 

MAP OF JOHN'S GOSPEL 




Bible; that the letters M. M. L. J. represented 
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which were 
the heart of the Bible, and John 3 : 16 was "the 
heart of the heart of the Bible." Many other 
interesting and valuable lessons were found by 
the different members, and the meeting was 
made as informal as possible so as to encourage 
the free expression of each member. In this 
71 



The Philathea Bible Class 

way the entire Gospel was gone over in a few 
weeks and the class took a recess of several 
weeks. 

The Gospel of Matthew makes a good study 
for the Dining-Table Bible Club, and is con- 
ducted the same as the Gospel of John, only 
that the chapters were named with words begin- 
ning with A, and continuing with the rest of the 
alphabet, the first chapter being called the A 
or Ancestry chapter, as it dealt with the ancestry 
of Christ, and the best verse was also selected. 
The second chapter was called the Boyhood 
chapter, as it told of the boyhood of Christ, 
and the next was called the C or Confession 
chapter, as they all went down to Jordan con- 
fessing their sins. The fourth or D chapter 
was called the Devil chapter, as it told of Christ's 
temptation by the Devil. 

In this manner all the chapters of the Gospel 
were named and the best verses were marked 
and committed to memory. When the letter 
X was reached, it was found a difficult thing to 
find a word beginning with X which would fit 
the chapter, so a committee was appointed, 
which after much probing brought in the word 
72 



The Spiritual Life of the Class 

'Xpectation, which fitted the chapter to perfec- 
tion. 

Many classes have had a very instructive study 
by taking the Acts of the Apostles. Here a map 
of Paul's Journeys was placed on the wall and 
they traced Paul as he went from town to town 
as related in the Acts of the Apostles. Whenever 
they came to a place where he wrote an epistle 
that place was marked on the margin of the Bible, 
and the epistle was studied for the next few 
lessons, after which the class returned to the 
Acts at the place left off. In this way much 
light was thrown upon the epistles, and they 
reflected Paul's Christian character and his 
joyful disposition when writing under adverse 
circumstances. Advanced Dining-Room Bible 
Clubs take the whole Bible, beginning at Genesis 
and studying by events through to Revelation. 

These Bible Clubs, together with the Secret 
Service, soon give a nucleus for a great personal 
workers' band, and no class can spend their 
time to better advantage than by sustaining the 
Bible Clubs for many years' study. A class that 
has a band of well-informed prayerful Bible 
students will bring scores of unconverted people 
73 



The Philathea Bible Class 

to Christ and prove their value to the church 
in which they are working. 

Many classes have prayer-meetings during 
the week and also sustain the church prayer- 
meeting. Pastors all over the world rejoice over 
the Philathea class and its prayer circles. 

The Philathea class, together with the Baraca 
class, is found everywhere. In one year it was 
reported at the National Convention that 18,000 
of the members had joined the church during 
the past year. 

To those who have been identified with this 
work for many years it has been plainly seen that 
the Philathea and Baraca movement was born of 
God. He has cared for it, and to-day over one 
million members study the Word in little groups 
in over 10,000 Bible classes all over the world. 
74 






THE CONSTITUTION 



The Constitution* 

THE young women of Syracuse, N. Y., 
realized the need of some special work 
for young women in the Sunday-school when 
they organized the first Philathea class in 1893. 
From that class we have spread over the world. 

Our platform is: "Young women at work for 
young women; all standing by the Bible and the 
Bible School and the church." Our name, 
which is Greek, means "Lovers of Truth." 

We aim in our organization to make each mem- 
ber feel that it is her own class and not the prop- 
erty of the teacher. And in this lies the secret of 
success. We are a part of the regular Sunday- 
school, and attend the opening and closing 
exercises. Where it is possible it has been found 
advantageous to have a separate room in which 
to listen to the lesson. When this can be done 
the meeting is presided over by the President, 
who, after calling for prayers, presents the 
teacher for the lesson. We have our regular 
business meeting, and every action of the class 

* Copies of this Constitution can be had at the office in 
Syracuse, N. Y. 

77 



The Philathea Bible Class 

is decided by and subject to a vote of the mem- 
bers. 

Different classes have different ways of arous- 
ing a class spirit; among them are socials, visita- 
tion of the sick, cottage prayer-meetings, visits 
to hospitals and almshouses, Christmas baskets 
to those in need, and secret prayer service, also 
the beautiful gold class pin by which the Phila- 
theas are known to each other, and the Baraca- 
Philathea News, through which the Philatheas 
can hear from and talk to each other. 

CONSTITUTION 

Object: Desiring to stimulate among young 
women the desire for true Christian knowledge, 
and to provide means by which this may be 
attained, to create an interest in and to support 
the Sunday Bible School and to unite its mem- 
bership in practical Christian sympathy and 
service; be it 

Resolved: That the Philathea Class be con- 
ducted by the following officers: President, 
Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, 
Treasurer, Reporter, Teacher and one or more 
assistants, as the class may choose. These 

78 



The Constitution 

officers shall be elected the last week in September 
and shall constitute the Executive Committee. 

Resolved: That the President shall preside at 
all meetings, and conform as nearly as possible to 
the following order each Sunday after the open- 
ing of the school: 
i. Call to order. 

2. Prayer. All repeating the Lord's Prayer. 

3. Class song. 

4. Passing membership cards by assistant 
secretary. 

5. Notices for the week by secretary. 

6. Any one sick or in distress. 

7. Collection by treasurer. 

8. Lesson by teacher (30 minutes), who closes 
by prayer. 

9. Secretary's report of attendance to-day. 
10. Treasurer's report for to-day. 

n. All repeat our National Platform. 

12. "Friendly Shake" service. Every one in 
the room is expected to shake hands with every 
other one and to introduce visitors and strangers. 
Adjourn. 

The Reporter shall report to the city press all 
matters of interest and shall correspond with all 

79 



The Philathea Bible Class 

other classes. The Secretary shall take the cards 
signed each Sunday and enter them in the class 
ledger, marking each one. She shall then give the 
name of each new member and visitor to the 
teacher, who shall cause a letter of welcome to 
be written. She shall notify the Volunteer 
Committee of the absence for three consecutive 
Sundays (without excuse) of any member. 
The other officers shall perform such duties as 
usually fall to their office. 

Resolved: That the following shall be our 
standing committees: Volunteer, Social, Mis- 
sionary. They shall consist of three or more 
persons and shall be appointed by the Executive 
Committee. Their duties shall be as follows: 
The Volunteer shall be on the lookout at every 
Sunday church service for strangers and invite 
them to the sessions of the class. They shall 
take the names of all absent members and vis- 
itors and visit them during the week, and try to 
interest them so they shall become regular 
attendants. The Social Committee shall see 
that every new member and all visitors on 
Sunday be introduced to all present, and they 
shall do all in their power to create a social 
80 






The. Constitution 

spirit among the members either by socials or 
entertainments, subject to the approval of the 
Executive Committee. The Missionary Com- 
mittee shall assist the Pastor or the Sunday- 
school Missionary in her work among the poor 
or sick. 

Resolved: This class shall meet regularly 
every Sunday with, and be a part of, the 
Sunday-school. A business meeting shall be 
called by the President at least once every 
month for the purpose of hearing reports of 
committees and officers and the transaction of 
business. 

Resolved: That we contribute "as the Lord 
hath prospered us" to the regular school collec- 
tion, and also a membership fee of five cents 
a month for the class expenses. 

Resolved: That these resolutions be entered 
upon the Secretary's ledger. They may be 
amended by a majority vote at any meeting 
called by the President and Executive Com- 
mittee. 

The Philathea class is interdenominational 
and welcomes all. To form a class there need 
not of necessity be a large class simply waiting 
81 



The Philathea Bible Class 

for a name. Get two or three interested one& 
together — more if you have them — and decide 
you will have a Philathea class. Name an even- 
ing that you wish to organize, and then work to 
get as many young women interested as possible 
and invite them to meet with you. You might 
have a small social affair, and then organize, 
inviting all who wished to join. When forming 
a class invite some one to preside. If there are 
other Philathea classes in your town invite some 
one from them to help, or your pastor or the 
Sunday-school Superintendent. 

The question is sometimes asked, "But why 
does a Philathea class do more good than any 
ordinary class?" Because, as I have stated be- 
fore, the class is not the property of the teacher. 
Bach member is given something to do aside from 
listening to the lesson on Sunday, in speaking to 
strangers and inviting them to visit the class, in 
calling on the absent and sick. 

A beautiful charter is issued for two dollars, 
and helps and a monthly magazine are sent free 
by the World-Wide Baraca-Philathea Union of 
Syracuse, N. Y. 

82 



The Constitution 

The Class Officers, Committees and their 
Duties 

The officers and committees of the class are 
that portion of the class machinery that has 
distinguished the organized from the unorganized 
class and made it a working class with a teaching 
teacher. 

This dividing of the work has been one of the 
factors that has made the Philathea class suc- 
ceed where so many others have failed. 

Officers 
The class officers should be : Teacher, assistant 
teacher, President, Vice-President, secretary, 
assistant secretary, treasurer, press reporter 
and librarians. Duties of these officers are such 
as you would find to be the duties in a bank or 
other organized institution, except those of the 
teacher, whose duty should be to teach the lesson 
in the most practical and helpful way, always 
using the Bible and encouraging the members to 
do the same, to be ex-officio at all meetings, look 
after the spiritual condition of the class and 
familiarize herself with every department of the 
class work, as well as the individual needs of each 

8 3 



The Philathea Bible Class 

member. She should not, however, assume re- 
sponsibility for any of the class activities. Her 
chief duty is to teach the Word of God and lead 
souls to Jesus Christ. 

The Class President 
The president should have charge of the open- 
ing and closing exercises on Sunday and should 
preside over all meetings with dignity. She 
should appoint the chairman of each committee, 
consult often with them and hold each member 
up to a certain grade of excellence. She should 
be energetic, aggressive, tactful, and, above all, 
a consecrated Christian. She should not be 
loaded down with other church duties, but should 
have time and strength to plan and work for the 
class, and should know how each member stands 
spiritually. 

The Class Secretary 

The class secretary is next in importance, and 
her value cannot be overestimated. She should 
find many things to do, in addition to keeping a 
record of the class, as she has an excellent oppor- 
tunity to increase sociability among the members 

8 4 



The Constitution 

by giving them a cordial welcome and hearty 
handshake as they enter the class room. Her 
actual duties should be to keep a complete and 
accurate record of all meetings, names and ad- 
dresses of all members, their occupation, business 
address and 'phone number. She should also 
keep a record of all visitors and delinquent 
members. She should use a 1-2-3-4 record book, 
keeping an account of each member of the class, 
if they are present at Sunday-school, morning 
and evening service, and if they have their Bibles 
with them. She should assist the president in 
every way possible and be prepared to furnish 
at all times any information to the committees 
and officers to help them to be more efficient in 
their duties. The duties of the other officers 
are such as are usually assigned to them. The 
importance of any office, however, should not be 
underestimated. 

Committees 

Every class should have four standing com- 
mittees — volunteer, membership, social and relief. 
Other special committees may be appointed as 
special occasions might require. These com- 

85 



The Philathea Bible Class 

mittees should be able to make a good report 
at all regular business meetings and a short 
pointed report for the class every Sunday, so 
that the new scholars and visitors may learn 
something of the excellent work the class is doing. 

Volunteer Committee. — The Volunteer Com- 
mittee should stand at the door on Sunday, 
meet the members and visitors, give them a 
good hearty welcome and handshake. They 
should find out their names, introduce them to 
the class, find them good seats, some books and 
Bible, and do all in their power to make every one 
feel perfectly at home. Many of the volunteer 
committees are now wearing the blue Philathea 
arm bands and find it quite effective. 

Membership Committee. — The Membership 
Committee should consist of three or four practi- 
cal and energetic young women, who have time 
and ideas, and tact in approaching other women. 
They should have a great deal of class pride and 
a willingness to do all in their power to win 
women to the class, regardless of who they are 
or where they come from or what they do, so 
long as they do not attend any other Sunday- 
school. This committee should assume the 
86 



The Constitution 

responsibility of securing new members, looking 
after the visitors, absentees, and such things as 
pertain to the class attendance. They should 
help plan for rally days, banquets, class dinners, 
and other special occasions. They should also 
assist in preparing class invitation cards, calling 
cards, stationery, all forms of printed matter 
and class advertising. They should have a list 
of all new scholars, visitors and prospective 
members, and use every effort to keep in touch 
with young women coming to or going from the 
city. 

Relief Committee. — The work of this com- 
mittee is important and much care should be 
used in getting the right women. They should 
be Christians with zeal, enthusiasm, and a will- 
ingness to work. They should look after the 
sick of the class, arrange to provide doctors, 
trained nurse, hospital or other comforts when 
necessary. They should visit the sick often, and 
provide flowers for them and for all funerals. 
They should also try to provide good comfortable 
Christian homes and boarding-houses for young 
women, and assist them whenever possible in 
getting good and profitable employment. This 
S7 



The Philathea Bible Class 

committee should be deeply interested in the 
unconverted of the class, and whenever a visit 
is made in the home of the sick the Scripture 
should be read and prayer offered. 

Social Committee. — Four members should be 
on the Social Committee and they should be well 
adapted to their work, possessing imagination, 
enthusiasm and a good spirit of fellowship. 
They should see that all strangers are properly 
introduced and made to feel at home, also pro- 
vide for at least four class socials during the 
year, which should never be held in the church 
if a good home can be secured. Special class 
days should be in charge of this committee, such 
as Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, 
Shamrock Day, Independence Day, a Grand 
Fall Rally Day, and many others, at which time 
suitable souvenirs should always be provided for 
those present. Debating societies, lectures, etc., 
should also be looked after and every possible 
effort put forth to make the social life of the 
class what it should be in every sense of the 
word. 

Executive Committee. — The Executive Com- 
mittee should consist of the chairmen of the 
88 



The Constitution 

standing committees, together with the class 
officers and teachers. The pastor and superin- 
tendent should also be considered as members. 
This committee should supervise all of the class 
activities and should be largely responsible for 
its spirituality, encouraging the secret service 
work, prayer meetings, and all forms of evan- 
gelistic work, also the wearing of the pin and 
such other things as will help to win women to 
the class, lead them to Christ and develop them 
in the Christian faith. 

8 9 



THE 
ADULT BIBLE CLASS TEACHER 

By 

Henrietta Heron 

Vice-President of the World-wide Baraca and Phelathea Union; 
Editor or the Adult Bible Class Monthly Teacher 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher * 

THERE is no higher calling than that of 
teacher of religious truths. It stands on 
a par with that of preacher, and in some respects 
affords even larger opportunities of winning men 
and women to Jesus Christ. There is a peculiar 
intimate personal association between a teacher 
and a pupil that is found in no other relation- 
ship. 

We delight in thinking and speaking of Jesus 
under various names. We call him Lord, Saviour, 
Friend, Helper, Healer, but most frequently we 
come to him, as did the twelve disciples of old, 
as pupil to teacher, and reverently address him 
as Master. As many as fifty times within the 
brief compass of the four Gospels is Jesus ad- 
dressed as Teacher. The pictures given of him 
in the New Testament most frequently reveal 
him as teaching. We see him healing the lame, 
the dumb and the blind, feeding the multitude, 

* This chapter is a compilation of notes from addresses 
given by Miss Heron at various Baraca and Philathea Con- 
ventions. 

93 



The Philathea Bible Class 

walking the waves, comforting the sorrowing, 
conversing with strangers by the wayside, visit- 
ing in the homes of his friends, forgiving the sin- 
stricken, but always, if we listen, we hear him 
teaching. To-day one who consecrates himself 
to the work of teacher of spiritual truths comes 
perhaps into a closer sympathetic relationship 
with the Great Teacher than he could in any 
other calling. 



Difference Between Teacher of Old Style Class 
and New 

The past few years have brought a revolu- 
tion in many phases of philosophic and religious 
thought. They have also brought a revolution 
in methods as related to religious education. 
It was not many years ago that the Sunday- 
school teacher was not only a recognized author- 
ity on all Biblical questions brought up in the 
class, but he was also recognized as the chief 
bearer of all class responsibility. 

Class organization has brought an entirely 
new order of things. It not only has changed 
94 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

the attitude of adults toward the Sunday-school 
and church, but has completely revolutionized 
the relationship of the teacher to the class. 

The well-trained teacher of ten years ago has 
had quite as much to unlearn as he has had to 
learn in order to be a well-trained teacher to-day. 
Many teachers find it difficult to adapt them- 
selves to the new conditions — some because 
they do not comprehend the need, others be- 
cause they do not know how, and a few because 
they are reluctant to give up the authority and 
power assigned to the teacher of the old-time 
class. 

In the unorganized class the teacher, as a rule, 
looked after all the interests of the class, such as 
they were, deciding all matters relative to the 
class, doing whatever work his time and strength 
permitted during the week, carrying the work 
entirely alone. The same one-man policy pre- 
vailed in the lesson session. The teacher did most 
of the preparation and came to class to give to 
such members as were there the summary of 
his week's study of history, geography, Bible 
commentary and Sunday-school lesson helps. 
His word was usually accepted with authority, 
95 



The Philathea Bible Class 

and none there were who dared or cared to lift 
their voices in doubt or question or protest. 
The classes were necessarily small — no one 
individual being able to give the personal con- 
tact during the week or to arrange the various 
activities which appeal to adults. Men and 
women bearing the responsibilities of life and 
in the very midst of its activities were repelled 
rather than attracted by the state of inactivity 
encouraged by such methods. The class had a 
certain interest for the few, usually the sainted 
few, who attended under the pressure of duty 
rather than from any sense of great help derived 
or given. The teacher grew under this regime — 
but the class remained stagnant. 

Class organization has changed all this. It 
stands for democracy, the systematic division of 
responsibility and work, it provides for class 
initiative, it utilizes the talent of the many 
rather than of the few, it demands self-govern- 
ment on the part of the members, each one 
having a voice and a vote in determining the 
policy of the class. Co-operation is the keynote 
of the organized class. The teacher who for years 
has been all things to the class — who has thought 

9 6 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

and worked for and given himself for the class — 
often does not know how to meet this new con- 
dition. The teacher can no longer expect to 
"run things" in the old-time, autocratic way. 
He will not want to when once he experiences the 
joy of being the teacher of a truly working class. 
The first thing is to 'let go." Whatever the 
teacher has been doing that any other officer or 
committee can do, should be turned over to 
such officers. A thorough study and understand- 
ing of the work of the various officers and com- 
mittees is essential to the teacher in order to 
be sure he is not usurping any duty assigned to 
any one of the officers. Everything which the 
teacher does which the class ought to do is rob- 
bing the class of opportunities of development 
of talents and graces of character. 



New Conditions Demand New Teaching Methods 

It is in the hour devoted to the consideration 
of the lesson that the marked difference be- 
tween the organized and the unorganized class 
is most readily seen, especially in the relation- 

97 



The Philathea Bible Class 

ship of the teacher to the class. The old plan 
of the teacher "doing it all" is as out of harmony 
in the lesson plans as in those relating to class 
activities. The democratic, co-operative spirit 
characterizes the lesson work of the organized 
class as strongly as it does the social, athletic, 
missionary, and other activities. The same vital 
principle holds. Interest is in exact ratio to the 
extent to which the class invests its time and 
thought. This is as true in lesson work as in the 
other class activities. In the old-time Bible 
class the teacher not only planned and conducted 
the [lesson, but "taught" it. He studied the 
lesson conscientiously during the week in order 
to "impart" helpful knowledge. He sometimes 
conducted a sort of weekly textual review of 
the lesson which tended to frighten away those 
who may not have studied, or whose memory 
of facts could not be trusted. The class were 
listeners who assented to things told them by 
the teacher. 

The introduction of the co-operative spirit 
has brought about an entirely new condition. 
The teacher recognizes that he is dealing with 
men and women who can and do think for them- 

9 8 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

selves, men and women who know something of 
life and its purposes, men and women who are 
interested in spiritual truths only to the extent 
they discover them for themselves and find 
their practical application to the problems of 
everyday life. The class-room is no longer a 
place for the teacher to display a brilliant array 
of knowledge of facts of the Bible, it becomes a 
sacred work room where men and women gather 
to talk over together the deeper things of the 
Spirit. 

The keynote of the lesson hour is not recita- 
tion, but friendly conversation. Its program 
embraces not so much scientific and critical 
study, as natural, simple, wisely conducted con- 
versation with a view to the promotion of practi- 
cal and spiritual life. Reverently and simply 
the teacher, with the new vision of large and 
better things for his class made possible by or- 
ganization, seeks to follow closely in the foot- 
steps of the One who made it part of His great 
mission in life to help others to "become." And 
as he follows he finds the truth of the promise 
that he who loses his life shall find it again. 



99 



The Philathea Bible Class 

The Aim and Purpose of Teaching in an 
Adult Class 

Various are the statements of the aim and 
purpose of Sunday-school teaching — but most of 
the statements refer to classes of children rather 
than to classes of adults. The imparting of in- 
formation is frequently given as the main pur- 
pose. This has its place in the adult Bible class, 
but not the large place which some teachers 
give it. It is one thing, and a comparatively 
simple thing, to impart information, or even to 
arouse another to seek information for himself — 
it is quite another thing, and a far harder one, to 
stimulate the thought activities of another, to 
"set loose" as it were, the power within, and to 
inspire his will to make wisest use of that power. 
Few men need more knowledge; but many need 
the transformation of their desires, the stimula- 
tion of their wills, and the inspiration of their 
hopes, so that they may have the heart to per- 
sist in their quest of the ideal. 

There is no greater need in the world to-day 
than of help for right living. Wills are weak, 
consciences are dulled, purpose is fickle, passions 
IOO 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

are strong — there is little to help in the struggles 
fought in the battlefield of human hearts. If 
we could know the spiritual hunger and loneli- 
ness of the multitude it would stagger us. The 
great purpose of teaching as it relates to the 
Adult Class is to furnish help and inspiration for 
noblest living. The atmosphere of the Sunday 
session of the class must be such that hearts 
can be opened. Burdens hidden from all the 
rest of the world are disclosed here, griefs are 
shown that the world does not suspect, sins are 
revealed, perplexity discussed, doubts confessed, 
and in the class there is patience, wisdom and 
faith for them all. Here "We leave the burden, 
and bear away a song." 



Methods of Teaching 

Acting on the old idea that education is a 
matter of a few early years rather than a life- 
time endeavor, educational principles have been 
stated only as they relate to the teaching of 
children and adolescents. Many teachers of 
IOI 



The Philathea Bible Class 

adult classes have accepted these educational 
principles and tried to apply them to the adult 
class. Failure has been the result. More classes 
have been killed by the use of teaching methods 
suited to children rather than to adults than in 
any other way. 

Strange as it may seem, the teacher has been 
slowest of all to grasp the significance of the 
marvelous growth in adult classes, to recognize 
the need of new methods, of applying them to the 
new conditions and of adapting himself to the 
new opportunities. The teacher who has thus 
failed is not entirely to blame for this — until the 
last year or two there has been very little printed 
matter to help, but now there is no excuse for a 
teacher not using the most approved methods 
for adults — theories have been tried and proved 
and formulated into definite principles such as 
are universally applicable and successful. The 
methods thus discovered — evolved out of ex- 
perience — are now quite generally known and 
he who runs may read. 



102 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

The Lecture Method 

The lecture method is used in some adult 
classes. Viewed in the light of the aims and pur- 
poses of teaching as related to an adult class, 
this method falls far short. It has a few ad- 
vantages, but these are overshadowed by its 
many disadvantages. Only a few teachers are 
good orators. The lecture method must have 
much of the entertaining feature if it is really 
to hold the attention of the hearers, and yet men 
and women ask for more than entertainment 
when they attend a Bible class. Even where 
interest seems to be quickened, the attention 
of the student may be wandering. An inter- 
ested look may be most deceiving. 

The lecture method tends to a dogmatism 
which is quite out of harmony with the aim 
and purpose of an adult class. The teacher may 
make statements with which the class does not 
agree — this antagonizes some, and leads others 
to accept without adequate thought or reason. 

The lecture method gives the teacher no oppor- 
tunity of discovering the capacities of his student, 
of developing these, of testing whether the student 



The Philathea Bible Class 

is advancing in spiritual knowledge or not. And 
most serious of all, it prevents the teacher from 
finding out the real spiritual needs of his class. 
So absorbed does he become in his own presenta- 
tion of the lesson that he cannot in the very- 
nature of things be keen in discovery of class 

needs. 

& 

The Recitation Method 

This is the method most commonly used. It 
has its place in classes of children in the "Mem- 
ory" period age, where part of the teacher's aim 
is to store the memory with facts — but it has 
only a very small place in an adult class. The 
method calls for the preparation of a definite 
lesson, assigned in advance, to be repeated or 
recited upon question of the teacher. This 
method may be used to the extent of having 
certain members prepared to give the historical 
and geographical setting of the lesson but not 
further. To spend the entire lesson period asking 
and answering questions relative to Biblical 
history or geography or incident, the teacher 
commenting, correcting and commending as the 
104 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

work of his pupils may justify, is to belittle the 
thinking powers of the men and women who 
are thus taught. Unfortunately, many teachers 
who use this method think they are using the 
discussion method, but there is as much difference 
between the "reciting" or "answering questions" 
of Biblical history, geography and incident, and 
the earnest consideration of the ethical and 
spiritual truths of the lesson as there is difference 
between darkness and light. 



The Conversational or Discussion Method 

What, then, is the ideal method for the adult 
class? Experience must be called upon to 
answer the question, and the answer comes un- 
hesitatingly — the open forum, the conversational, 
the discussion method. This was the method 
and this the purpose of Socrates. Recognized 
as one of the greatest teachers that ever lived, 
he did not lecture nor require his students to 
recite lessons. The method in itself is as nearly 
ideal as can be found. It carries into the lesson 
hour the co-operative spirit and plan which has 
105 



The Philathea Bible Class 

made the adult class a success in its various 
social, missionary and philanthropic activities. 
Co-operation is the keynote to personal interest 
and success. The advantages of the conver- 
sational or discussion method are worthy of 
careful study. 



ADVANTAGES OF DISCUSSION METHOD 

Arouses Interest 

The discussion method most nearly conforms 
to the requirements of the aims and purposes of 
teaching. Interest, attention and self-activity 
are stimulated. One must think for himself to 
take part in a discussion. This keeps him 
awake and interested. There are never any 
dull and listless members in the class where 
all are free to express an opinion, as there so 
often are in the class where the teacher does 
all the talking. Members are interested in a 
class where they feel free to come and talk over 
their problems and find help for them in the 
light of other men's experiences and in the light 
of the truths revealed in the Bible lesson events. 
1 06 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

Provokes Thought Rather Than Tests 
Memory 

Teachers frequently declare that their members 
will refuse to come to class if there is any danger 
of their being called on to answer questions, and 
use this as their excuse for clinging to the lecture 
method. It is quite true men and women do not 
like to have their intellectual ignorance dis- 
covered and uncovered, but the open forum 
method does not put the class members to the 
embarrassment of answering "text" questions, 
depending upon thorough study and a good 
memory. It depends rather upon the experience 
of the class member — the questions are such as 
provoke his thought rather than test his memory. 
Classes may safely advertise "An open discus- 
sion on the Lesson" and promise in the next 
sentence — "No one called on personally to 
answer any question. You may take part, or 
keep still, if you can, just as you please." Those 
most insistent that no questions be asked them 
frequently develop into the most interested 
partakers in the discussion of practical themes. 



107 



The Philathea Bible Glass 

Gives Variety of Thought and Experience 

The teacher who lectures may say many things 
with which the class does not agree at all — 
and usually he says these with a degree of finality 
which is most harmful to his hearers. The ques- 
tion method brings out a variety of thought on the 
subject of the lesson. The class receives not 
only the thought which the teacher has in mind — 
but that of others, often fresher and clearer in 
its application than that of the teacher. The 
experience of certain members of the class may 
be broader in some lines than that of the teacher — 
their opinion may thus be of more value. Cer- 
tain it is that the class as a whole is entitled to 
the best thought of any and all the members 
rather than just that of the one. 



Clears Up Doubts and Prevents Dogmatism 

Some teachers shy from the discussion method 

for fear some member may express in the class 

doubts and skepticisms which may be harmful 

to the others, or which they themselves cannot 

1 08 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

answer. This fear is groundless — here of all 
places should doubts be brought to light. The 
wise teacher neither seeks nor desires the author- 
ity which the teacher of a decade ago claimed as 
his right — he does not desire to be the "last 
word" on subjects brought up for discussion; 
rather does he declare himself to be one with the 
class as a learner. Better that doubts be dis- 
cussed freely in a class with the Bible in hand 
among those who are earnestly seeking for the 
truth than among those who scoff at things of 
the Spirit. Truth can bear closest inspection and 
analysis. It needs no defense; it cannot fail in 
due time to command attention and loyalty. 
None need fear it. Indeed, for a teacher to appear 
to be fearful of any expressed doubts is but to 
deepen the skepticism of the doubter. Doubts 
soon fade away when the white light of truth is 
focused upon them. I quote from a letter just 
received, showing the class viewpoint in this 
connection : 

"In our class yesterday we had what we boys 
call a red hot discussion — the room was crowded 
to the doors — the discussion was the livest pos- 
sible, yet everything was said in the kindest way. 
109 



The Philathea Bible Class 

We had one of the most pointed lessons we have 
ever had and to my mind it opened our eyes to 
some things we had never thought of before. 
The discussion broadened our minds, and though 
I, for one, am thinking as I did before, I am sure 
I have a great deal more charity than I have 
ever had before for those who have been brought 
up differently from myself. If only we could get 
our teachers to give us a chance, as our substitute 
teacher did yesterday, to ask and answer ques- 
tions and to 'clear the air' on these vexed ques- 
tions relating to our moral and spiritual life, our 
Bible classes would soon be a tremendous power 
in the lives of men and women and I believe men 
would be converted to the Christian life by the 
thousands." 

Brings Out Latent Talents 

Taking part in a discussion trains members 
to clear thinking and gives them practise in 
making thorough and intelligent statements. 
Practical results of this training are soon revealed 
in other lines of class activity. There is more 
thoughtful and intelligent discussion of methods 
HO 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

of work at the business meetings. The timid 
member is helped to overcome self-consciousness, 
the domineering member learns better how to 
give way to others, the self-opinionated becomes 
humble, talents and interests come to the surface 
in unexpected ways and present themselves for 
use and development. 

& 

Gives Incentive for Home Study 

No teacher can compel a class to study. Inter- 
est is the keynote. Men and women in the midst 
of compelling duties are not always interested in 
study for study's sake. They may even resent 
the idea of study if it comes to them in the form 
of an added duty. The greatest incentive to 
home study of the lesson is giving the Sunday 
session over to the discussion of practical truths 
growing out of the lesson text, and consideration 
of their application to everyday problems. The 
study of Bible history as history is interesting 
only to those of an historical turn of mind, but 
almost every human being can be interested in 
discussing questions relating to the laws that 
govern moral and spiritual life and in discover- 
III 



The Philathea Bible Class 

ing how to apply these laws so as to help him de- 
cide what to do under conditions met in business, 
in the home, and in civic and social life. Members 
who have been assigned such questions have time 
and again testified to the astonishing way in 
which the interest has grown during the week — 
questions which required thought rather than 
book study — questions which kept their thoughts 
on some high practical theme as they went to 
and from or about their work. Such thinking 
often leads to reading and study, but even if it 
does not, is not this the best kind of home study — 
this rousing of men and women to thinking on 
high spiritual things, and to considering how 
these relate to the practical experiences of life? 

It is a fine thing when all the members of the 
class spend a certain amount of time studying 
the textual lesson for the following Sunday, but 
it is not wise to put too much emphasis on this, 
and the lesson should be so conducted that those 
who do not study the historical and geographical 
setting will still have a vital part in considering the 
practical truths of the lesson. If during the week 
the class members continue to think over and 
study and test out the truths gained the week 

112 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

before, they are doing a far bigger thing than if 
they spend a certain number of hours in study 
for mere study's sake. 



Leads to Devotional Bible Reading 

Bible reading for devotional purposes is quite 
different from Bible study for information and 
is a very common result of the discussion method. 
Such study of the Bible most truly feeds the 
spiritual life. The Bible has much to satisfy the 
intellect, it has more to satisfy and feed the heart 
life, and to such kind of home study our class 
work should tend. 

Takes Into Account the Changing Personnel 

In the younger classes the successful teacher 
may reasonably count on having his class in 
fairly regular attendance and in having as mem- 
bers of his class the same persons for a year at 
least and ofttimes for longer. His lessons are 
prepared with this condition in mind; he builds 
from week to week, "precept upon precept; line 
upon line." 

113 



The Philathea Bible Class 

In the adult class there is constant shifting 
and change. .The average adult class never is 
the same two Sundays in succession. Some come 
into the community for a few weeks or a month 
or two, join the class for that time and then pass 
on to another community. The home conditions 
of some are such that regular attendance be- 
comes impossible — and from one reason or 
another peculiar to adult life the same group 
rarely meet together from one Sunday to another. 
This mades it imperative that every session be its 
best. One in real need of spiritual help may be 
here to-day and gone to-morrow. The open 
forum method helps the teacher to discover this 
need, and in an acceptable way to offer the Bread 
of Life. 

J* 

Assures Permanency 

Only the class which discusses vital themes 
in a sane, constructive way has a permanent 
lease of life; such a class will survive a change of 
teachers or any other shock. Progressive men 
and women are constantly meeting new and larger 
problems, and the light which was adequate for 
114 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

yesterday's problem will not suffice for the one 
faced to-day. The class that uses the open 
forum method and thus adjusts itself to the new 
and growing needs of growing men and women 
makes for its own permanency. 



Lets Truth Make Its Own Appeal 

Many teachers seem to think that a part of 
their work is exhorting their members to do. 
This may be necessary in younger classes. There 
is a better way for the adult class, a way which 
makes a far stronger appeal, and a way for which 
the discussion method especially provides. The 
teacher expresses confidence in his class when he 
assumes that truth will make its own appeal, 
will be accepted by reason and applied by will. 
It is far better to spend time in leading a discus- 
sion to prove that a thing is worth while than 
in urging the doing of it. Men and women can 
largely be trusted to do that which appeals to 
them as the reasonable thing to do, and they 
respond to the expression of such trust on the 
part of the teacher. 

115 



The Philathea Bible Class 

Encourages Continuous Thought on 
Spiritual Things 

The teacher must not make the mistake of 
thinking of the class as a place for the settle- 
ment of all questions. The class misses the mark 
if it aims to do this. There should be utmost 
freedom of discussion and at the same time a 
freedom from forcing a question to a conclusion 
or a settlement. Many questions brought up 
cannot be settled in a final way, they are "grow- 
ing questions," yet it is a fine thing for men and 
women to be set thinking about these higher 
things. To so rouse the interest of the class that 
a big question up for discussion will be a matter 
of continued thought and conversation and 
study during the week is a much larger achieve- 
ment than to have a smaller question "decided." 



Reveals Spiritual Needs of Class 

One of the greatest advantages of the discus- 
sion method is that it reveals to the teacher the 
needs of the class. A teacher may prepare a fine 
116 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

and eloquent discourse on the lesson, even a very- 
practical one, but if it does not meet an imme- 
diate and pressing need of the members it loses 
nearly all of its value. The teacher absorbed 
in his own views of the lesson and in the presen- 
tation of the same, is often "hundreds of miles" 
away from the real heart problems of his class. 
Discussion brings out, at times most startingly, 
the immediate need of the class. For some mem- 
ber of the class to be in distress of mind or heart 
and the teacher unable to sense or discover that 
need is a tragedy. The discussion method 
largely helps to avert such tragedies. 



& 



Encourages Practical Testing of Truths 

"No one ever really possesses a truth until 
he opens the door to it with a key of his own 
forging." 

Truths which the members talk over among 
themselves become a part of them, while those 
which the teacher gives in discourse, no matter 
how interesting, all too frequently go in one ear 
and out at the other. A truth which a member 
117 



The Philathea Bible Class 

discovers and to which he commits himself 
through expression of it, becomes his possession 
in a way not otherwise possible, and he goes out 
to live before others according to the truth he 
has expressed. A teacher may declare a truth 
and urge its acceptance — but it does not thus 
become the possession of him who hears. A 
truth discovered and expressed before others is 
more likely to be put to the practical test of ex- 
perience than is some principle of action sug- 
gested or dictated by another. 



How to Start the Discussion Method 

Many teachers are beginning to recognize 
the discussion method as the only one suited to 
an adult class, but are at a loss to know how to 
change from the old lecture or recitation method 
to the new. The way to begin is to begin. It 
may take courage to lay aside the old and tried 
way of doing things, to venture out into the 
unknown, and the temptation is to put it off 
from Sunday to Sunday — to change ' 'gradually" 
118 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

from the old to the new, but success awaits him 
who fearlessly "begins." 

The greatest help to introducing the open 
forum or discussion method is to have a lesson 
help that provides thought- provoking ques- 
tions on the practical truths growing out of the 
lesson text and related in their application to the 
experiences of everyday life. If the class uses 
no such lesson help the work of the teacher is 
greatly increased, for he must then provide a set 
of such questions, at least until the class gets 
started. If questions are not in the hands of the 
class by means of a lesson help, those prepared 
by the teacher should be numbered and put up 
in full view of the class, or printed or written on 
slips of paper and passed out to the members. 

Some member may be asked ahead of time to 
be prepared to give the historical setting of the 
lesson, another to give the geographical setting 
and one perhaps to connect the present lesson 
with the one of the previous Sunday. The 
presentation of these to the class should not 
take more than five minutes and often can be 
given in less time. The reading of the lesson 
verses by any method the class may choose may 
119 



The Philathea Bible Class 

follow without further comment. The teacher 
may then ask the class to look over the questions 
and call by number for such ones as they desire 
to discuss. The question called for is read and 
thrown open to the class. If the questions are 
the right kind the class may be depended upon to 
take hold of the question with a live interest and 
express their views freely on it. No question 
should be discussed at too great length. Another 
from the written or printed list may be called for, 
or others which the class suggests may be taken 
up. The teacher must be extremely careful not 
to yield to the temptation to do the answering — 
it is his part to encourage the class to talk, merely 
piloting or leading the discussion. The teacher 
who adopts this plan will be surprised at the im- 
mediate results. The writer has tried it out in 
various kinds of classes — classes varying greatly 
in age, education and general conditions, classes 
that had been trained to "keep still" and listen 
to the teacher — but the method has never yet 
failed to elicit an immediate and hearty response. 
After the first Sunday work may be assigned in 
advance or not, according to the choice of the 
class. There are several ways of assigning work. 
I 20 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

Certain members may be asked to come prepared 
to express an opinion on such a question for the 
next lesson, designating the question by its num- 
ber; or another member may be asked to call for 
a certain question by its number, during the next 
discussion — such a one naturally thinks over the 
question himself when knowing it is to be brought 
up for discussion. In time the class will learn to 
formulate questions of their own, introducing such 
as they are especially interested in. The class 
may largely be trusted to make the discussions 
lively and interesting and thoroughly practical 
if given half a chance. The teacher may express 
his opinion with the others, but is not entitled to 
take any more of the time than any other one 
member is expected to do. He becomes a leader, 
directing and inspiring. 



Loyalty to the Bible 

In this day when programs of social service 

are being offered on all sides, the temptation to 

substitute the study of these subjects for Bible 

study presents itself. The temptation comes 

121 



The Philathea Bible Class 

also in our eagerness to make the lesson hour 
' 'practical . ' ' But let not the teacher be led astray 
here. Social service will never be done well except 
as it is done by men and women whose hearts 
are nourished by the Bread of Life. Too much 
of our social service works from without, on the 
principle that right environment will transform 
the individual — but environment never yet saved 
a man. Humanity must grow its strength from 
within. To be concerned in our classes about 
politics, sociology, ethics and reforms, is to deal 
with consequences rather than causes — is to be 
concerned with surface rather than root problems. 
There is a deeper, more fundamental need. 
Jesus went about doing good. He healed the 
sick and fed the hungry — but these were but 
symptoms of something deeper — he touched the 
hearts of men and helped them into newness of 
life. The carrying on of his mission is ours, and 
we can carry on the mission only as we help men 
and women into closer personal relationship with 
the Master, help them to better understanding 
of His teachings and inspire them to put to the 
practical test of everyday living the great prin- 
ciples He gave us. No great problems of business, 

122 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

social or civic life will be settled right except as 
they are settled in the light of the truths revealed 
in the Bible. 

The Evangelistic Aim of Teaching 

Building right character has been stated as one 
of the aims and purposes of teaching an adult 
class. Right character is possible only as it is 
built on the foundation, Jesus Christ. 

To bring the members of one's class into a vital 
personal relationship with Jesus Christ and 
through Him into harmony with the Father 
and His ways is the highest aim of teaching. 
In order to do this, the teacher must have right 
views regarding religious experience and espe- 
cially conversion. The scientific research of our 
age has revealed to us in a very wonderful way 
the fact that law and growth prevail in the 
Divine method; while this has changed and 
fairly revolutionized much of our thinking, it 
has put new and strong emphasis upon the work 
of the religious teacher. His every effort may 
and should be constructive and effective. His 
every contact with a class-member may and 
123 



The Philathea Bible Class 

should be a help in the spiritual growth of that 
member. 

The teacher must not make the mistake of ex- 
pecting all his class to pass through the same 
kind of a religious experience. God works with 
the individual soul. One type of religious ex- 
perience is no more evidence of the presence and 
working of the Divine than is another. Some 
teachers have been so embued with the idea that 
conversion must be a striking experience, accom- 
panied by deep remorse, and associated with a 
definite time and place, that they have missed 
helping some quiet, seeking soul into the King- 
dom. To be born again is not always to ex- 
perience a sudden and marked change of habit 
and thought; far more often is it a growth in char- 
acter wrought in the impenetrable solitude of the 
human heart, so gradually that the converted 
can never declare to itself a particular moment 
or a particular experience in which the surren- 
der was made and the illumination became con- 
scious. Yet he knows for a certainty that whereas 
once he was blind — now he sees. 

To help a soul to realize its spiritual responsibil- 
ity, to help him to see the importance of making 
124 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

choices in the light of immortality, to help him 
into such acquaintanceship with Jesus Christ 
that he will recognize him as God's provided way 
for the salvation and ultimate holiness of the 
human soul — such is the work of the teacher. 



& 



Co-operative Evangelistic Work 

The co-operative spirit which characterizes 
the plan of work in class activities, which makes 
for success in the lesson work is also to be carried 
into the evangelistic work of the class. This is 
the teacher's chief privilege and responsibility, 
but he need not work alone. As the President and 
committee chairmen gather about them those 
helpful in carrying out their special line of work, 
so the teacher may and should share with others 
his greatest privilege. In every class there are 
some members who are more deeply interested 
in spiritual things than others, members who are 
gifted with talents for "personal work," members 
who have power in prayer. These may be a great 
ally to the teacher in helping to bring about that 
devotional, prayerful, worshipful spirit in the 
125 



The Philathea Bible Class 

class-room, that atmosphere wherein class-mem- 
bers are at their best, where lofty desires are born 
and wills spurred and strengthened for noblest 
action. They may, through prayer and such 
personal work as the Spirit may lead them to do, 
be instrumental in winning others to decision 
for Christ — and this sometimes more readily and 
effectively than even the teacher himself. 

The Secret Service plan of working came into 
existence to meet this need. It provides for a 
systematic, practical way of developing the co- 
operative spirit in the class relative to evangelistic 
work. By its use there is gathered a circle of 
devoted members who give themselves to definite 
prayer and personal work for the unconverted 
members of the class. The Service has been 
introduced into hundreds of classes with wonder- 
ful results * 



Jesus the Ideal Teacher 

Jesus was preeminently a Teacher. The title 

is applied to him in the Gospels more often than 

* Send for free booklet, "Baraca-Philathea Secret 
Service," to Baraca & Philathea World-Wide Union, 
Syracuse, N. Y. 

126 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

any other. Perhaps his greatest work was the 
training of twelve ordinary men who called 
themselves His disciples. "When Jesus died he 
left no writings and gave no code of laws: He 
simply entrusted His work and the spreading of 
the gospel to those who had had the wonderful 
experience of his personal companionship, com- 
mitting them to the leadership of the Spirit of 
Truth, who, he promised, should lead them into 
all truth." No teacher is prepared for his work 
until he has made a very thorough study of the 
work of Jesus as a Teacher. From such a study 
the earnest student is sure to come with deepened 
convictions, stronger faith, holier reverence, 
quickened love, and a knowledge of all that is 
wisest and best in methods. 



The One Thing Needful 

Every teacher who reads these lines has his 
own conception of the ideal teacher. Only 
those of us who have "had the vision" know 
how far short we fall of its realization. Yet 
no teacher need be discouraged in this — for he 
127 



The Philathea Bible Class 

who has attained his ideal is no longer an ideal 
teacher. 

In considering the various qualifications of a 
teacher, we must not lose sight of the fact that 
there is something much more important than 
the gaining of knowledge, an understanding of 
psychology and skill in the use of best methods. 
These with a certain standard of morality may 
give a teacher of secular knowledge a high 
rating — but the Bible class teacher may have 
all these and still lack the one thing needful. 
The Bible class teacher must be literally born 
again — he must have in his own heart the power 
of the assurance of the endless life and have 
entered here and now into the more abundant life 
which Jesus promised, he must be in personal 
intimate communion with the Holy Spirit who 
shall lead him into all Truth. 

Faithfulness in prayer is essential. Was there 
ever a teacher who did not daily speak the 
name of his class in prayer? Probably not — but 
always there is the temptation in these days of 
many calls, to go before one has tarried for 
refreshment and new strength. Not to pray as 
a last resort when all other efforts seem to have 
128 



The Adult Bible Class Teacher 

failed — but to pray first and then in the power 
generated in the hour of communion, go forth to 
teach, to work, to win. 

The teacher who wins others to the Christian 
life is the one who most fully expresses in his 
own life the power of the Spirit. To sacrifice 
the trivial social pleasure rather than to risk 
being a stumbling-block to another, to avoid even 
the appearance of evil, to stand strong midst 
temptations, to keep the faith when the tidal 
wave of sorrow comes flooding into the life, 
to be faithful in prayer, to have a heart at leisure 
from itself so as to be sensitive to the needs of 
others, — this is "living the life." Such a teacher 
is growing finer heart qualities with the passing 
days and weeks and months — he is coming to 
know more of the doctrine through doing more of 
His will — the light and life, and glow, and warmth 
of his consecration are being expressed in a life of 
purity, simplicity, serenity and gladness, such as 
leads others naturally to inquire of him the way 
to the Life Beautiful. 

129 



HELPS FOR CLASSES 



Helps for Classes 

The following are some of the articles of litera- 
ture which are mailed to inquirers who may want 
to form Philathea Classes. 

Over one million copies are sent out at the head- 
quarters of the World-Wide Baraca and Phila- 
thea Union, Syracuse, N. Y., free upon application 
each year. 

Let's Get It Straight 

The Philathea movement, because of its 
great strength and its wonderful activity, 
has been more or less misunderstood and as a 
result has sometimes brought criticism upon 
itself. When a pastor, or any other person, really 
understands the great principles on which the 
Philathea movement is founded, he always 
comes into hearty sympathy with it. For several 
reasons the Philathea movement stands pre- 
eminent in the organized Bible class work which 
is sweeping the country. First, it emphasizes in 
its platform the relation of the class to the school. 
Second, it makes Bible study of first impor- 
tance. Third, it emphasizes and tends to the 



The Philathea Bible Class 

development and training of personal workers. 
Fourth, its name does not imply any denomina- 
tion. Fifth, it has back of it the working ex- 
perience of twenty- two years. In your own 
state you have back of you City Union and 
tremendously strong state organizations under 
most efficient leadership. Perhaps some of you 
do not know that the Philathea movement 
formed the foundation for the building of the 
great organized Bible class movement that is 
sweeping over our country to-day. It was 
through the first Baraca class that Sunday-school 
leaders caught the vision of the possibilities of 
organized work and began to introduce new 
plans into the Sunday-school. 

Relation of Philathea Classes to International 
Sunday School Association. — Some have mis- 
understood the relation of the Philathea class 
to the International Sunday School Associa- 
tion. As you know, the International Sunday 
School Association is the largest army of organ- 
ized religious workers in the world to-day. Its 
field is the whole world. Every Sunday-school 
class in the very nature of things, and by natural 
right, is a part of this great Sunday-school family. 
134 



Helps for Classes 

The Philathea classes are as much a part of this 
great organization as is the primary or inter- 
mediate class. As a vital part of this Associa- 
tion, it is important that every class formally 
identify itself with it, and this may be done by 
taking out a certificate with the Association. 
It costs a class only 25 cents, and through such 
enrolment the class receives the backing, the 
strength and the power of the Association and 
does not alter its relationship in any way to the 
state or the national Baraca and Philathea Union. 
Relation of Class to Church and Sunday-school. — 
The relation of the class to the Sunday-school 
and church has been greatly misunderstood, and 
especially by those who should perhaps under- 
stand it best. The modern church is different 
from the church of even ten or twelve years 
ago. The church of to-day gives expression 
to its life by means of a large variety of services, 
of which the sermon or preaching service is one. 
The Sunday-school is another service of the 
church; the prayer meeting is another; the 
young people's society is another; the Ladies' 
Aid Society, the Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society, etc., are still others. The sermon 
135 



The Philathea Bible Class 

service is the most important service of all 
— it will probably always be the most vital, yet 
it is not and can not be all-inclusive as it once 
was. The Sunday-school is just as much a part 
of the church as the preaching service. The 
organized classes are a part of the Sunday- 
school and thus, in the very nature of things, a 
vital part of the church. Somehow the idea 
has gained ground that the organized Bible 
class is some kind of new organization that is 
seeking admission into the Sunday-school and 
church, when the truth of the matter is the 
organized class originated right in the Sunday- 
school, as a means of enlarging and increasing 
our usefulness. The purpose of class, and Sun- 
day-school and church are one. The supreme 
object of all is to bring persons into the Christian 
life and to train them in Christian service. The 
difference is this — the preaching service culti- 
vates the attitude of the worshipper. The Bible 
class emphasizes the attitude of the learner. One 
helps him to be worshipful according to Biblical 
standards; the other to learn what these stand- 
ards are. The class and the church, the two 
services, complement each other. There should 
136 



Helps for Classes 

be no attempt to make one like the other, to 
substitute one for the other or to compare one 
unfavorably with the other. Both are needed 
by everybody. 

The Classes and Young People's Societies. — 
This is equally true of our young people's socie- 
ties, the prayer meetings, missionary societies — 
each one of which has its own particular work 
to do, its own field of service to cultivate and 
harvest. While none should infringe upon the 
right of the others, all should co-operate heartily. 
The work of each organization is necessary to a 
well-rounded church life. Some classes have been 
criticized because they have not co-operated 
with other organizations of the church. It is 
scarcely fair that this criticism is made regarding 
the class and no other church organization, but 
let us remember that if the Bible class does its 
own work well, it is doing a tremendous work, 
even though it does nothing else. To set men 
and women to studying the Bible is a great task 
in itself, but the class does much more than this 
inasmuch as it provides avenues of service where- 
by the truth learned is given practical expression. 
The criticism has been made that our classes have 



The Philathea Bible Class 

destroyed the young people's society. If this 
were true, it could relate only to the Baraca and 
Philathea classes composed of very young people. 
The young people's society of any church is sup- 
posed to be only for young people, usually not 
for those over 25 years of age. Our Bible classes 
are for every one, from the little tot in the be- 
ginner's grade to the old man tottering on the 
edge of the grave. No person ever grows too old 
to be a Bible student. Further, the purposes of 
these two societies are also different. Our young 
people's society is the devotional service of the 
church for the young people of the church. Our 
Bible classes are for the study of God's Word. 
Some of the head workers of the various young 
people's societies themselves recently admitted 
that the real cause for decreasing interest was 
that those members who had come into the 
society when the society was young had never 
gone out of it and the young people for whom the 
society was originally intended had no voice or 
part in it. 

The Class and Church Attendance. — Some pas- 
tors have complained that the organized Bible 
class has taken men and women from the church 

138 



Helps for Classes 

attendance; but a very conservative and careful 
investigation reveals the fact that the church at- 
tendance is just as large as it ever was, but has 
not increased accordingly with the size of the 
classes. Here, of course, the class meets a 
responsibility and opportunity. Yet even here 
we must not judge or condemn too hastily. 
This is an age of specialists. "Every man to his 
job" is the slogan of the day. No one person can 
be equally active and helpful in all departments 
of the modern church. Even the pastor, who 
gives his entire time to this work, cannot attend 
all the meetings of the various organizations of 
the church, and it cannot be expected of the 
members of the Philathea classes that they can 
enter heartily and give equal service in all of the 
manifestations of the life of the modern church. 
Each one must specialize to a certain degree. 
Each Christian worker has limitations that must 
be recognized and none should be severely criti- 
cised because of these limitations. The church 
should be properly thankful for these specialists 
and give them the largest opportunities to exer- 
cise their special gifts and graces and attainments 
to the very best advantage for the common 
139 



The Philathea Bible Class 

cause. They should not be frowned upon or 
scolded or spoken of slightingly because they 
cannot do everything. The church and the class 
have equal chance for winning men and women to 
its services. If the class succeeds where the church 
does not, certainly failure of the church should 
not be blamed upon the class. Rather should 
the class be congratulated upon doing its work 
so well and its co-operation be heartily sought 
by the church. 

One reason that the class is of such tremendous 
power in the church of to-day is this (and per- 
haps this is the most important point to be 
made) — the class is the point of contact between 
the masses and the church. Think a moment and 
see if this is not true. The Ladies' Aid is an 
organization for members of the church ; the young 
people's society advertises itself as the devotional 
service for the young people already in the 
church or sons and daughters of church mem- 
bers; the prayer meeting is the devotional service 
for the members of the church, and so on through 
the various organizations. I have been attend- 
ing prayer meeting ever since I remember, and 
owe much of the joy of my spiritual life to the 
140 



Helps for Classes 

prayer meeting; and yet I can say this, that in 
all the times I have attended I think I can count 
on my two hands the times when there was a 
stranger in the prayer meeting. The Bible class 
goes out after the stranger, and in bringing him 
in becomes the biggest feeder to the church to-day. 
The class holds a unique place in the church life. 
It is getting inside men and women on the outside. 
The majority of men in the prime of manhood 
to-day were lost to the Sunday-school and church 
in their teen age. The church and Sunday- 
school admit that somehow they failed. This 
is further evidenced by the fact that to-day the 
country is flooded with false sects and creeds. 
Christian Science, Theosophy, New Thought, 
scepticism and various other cults have sprung 
into existence and claim that their purpose is 
to give what the churches fail to supply. I 
thank God that the church and Sunday-school 
of to-day are alive, and are giving men and 
women what they most need in their spiritual 
life. But this fact remains, that many of these 
who were lost to the church and Sunday-school 
do not know that the church of to-day is meeting 
their need. We cannot win them by simply 
141 



The Philathea Bible Class 

asking them to come to the church; we cannot 
expect a man to take a church membership pledge 
unless he is a Christian, and many refuse to 
attend the church unless they are members. 
The class becomes the point of contact. Into 
our classes we say, "Come, enjoy our good 
fellowship with us." And asking no pledge the 
men and women respond to our invitation. One 
reason is, we stand on such a broad platform. 
Every one is welcome to the class, saint or sinner. 
If a person is eager to study God's Word, or even 
just wants to enjoy our fellowship, we welcome 
such into our class. Creed and denominationalism 
are not emphasized in Philathea. All the great 
evangelical denominations of the day are sepa- 
rated only on the unessentials. We are one in the 
great vital truths of Christianity, and what a 
magnificent thing to have an organization like 
the Baraca and Philathea that emphasizes the 
points of unity rather than points of difference! 
It is a blessed thing to arrange the truth as we 
see it into a system of creeds, and yet sometimes 
in our churches and in our Sunday-schools we 
make so much of belief and theology and creed 
that the man on the outside gets the idea that 
142 



Helps for Classes 

that is all there is to it, and turns away. If we 
could only make men and women on the outside 
see that the life we call them to is the life with 
Jesus — a life to which, important as they are, 
belief and creed are secondary — a life based on 
fundamental, vital, personal sight of the same. 
Our classes must be spiritual homes in which 
souls are born into spiritual life and taught the 
social meaning of regeneration. The class will 
close the door to its largest field of service if it 
lets denominationalism grip it. As our work is 
now conducted it is in harmony with the demands 
of the times for the development of the spirit 
of brotherhood. * * * 

Our classes may be united and strengthened 
in City Union work, in a strong state and national 
organization. The weakest class may thus have 
the strength of the whole, and let us substitute 
the spirit of brotherhood for the spirit of de- 
nominationalism that in our united strength we 
may engage in warfare with giant evils with the 
sure hope of victory. We must keep our plat- 
form broad in order to win the outsider. After 
we get them into the class, the class spirit should 
be so strong toward the church that they will be 
143 



The Philathea Bible Class 

glad to become members. We should emphasize 
the importance of every class co-operating with 
the pastor, finding out where he needs help and 
supplying that help; aiding him in his evangel- 
istic services, attending the preaching service, 
coming out to prayer meeting — at least sending a 
delegation from the class — and in every way 
possible co-operating with pastor and superin- 
tendent. Our classes can make themselves in- 
dispensable to the church and in return receive 
her protection, her encouragement and her hearty 
co-operation. * * * 

You have learned how to keep step one with 
the other, to work shoulder to shoulder together. 
You are trained how to heed and obey the call 
of a leader. In our national leader, Marshall A. 
Hudson, we have a saintly, godly man. We 
have our Divine Leader, who is King of kings 
and Lord of lords. * * * 

May to-night the Holy Spirit so fire our hearts 
with enthusiasm and consecration that even now 
we may turn our footsteps into the path that shall 
bring us into the land where dreams come true. 

Henrietta Heron, 
Vice-President. 
144 



Helps for Classes 

Why Baraca-Philathea Stands in a Class 
of Its Own 

The question is often asked: Wherein do the 
"Philathea classes" differ from all other classes 
that come under the general head "The Adult 
Bible class"? 

It is estimated that nearly nine thousand 
differently named classes come under this general 
head, which, of course, includes "Philathea." 
Out of the entire number the writer has thus far 
been unable to find a single one that has not 
failed to include in its organization many of the 
vital principles that Philathea has always stood 
for, and which have placed them in a class of 
their own. Especially is this true with reference 
to the platform and Secret Service, which is the 
one principle out of many, I have been asked to 
mention. 

Every woman who has reached the age of 
maturity is necessarily an adult, since she could 
not be otherwise, but in no case is she a Phila- 
athea only as she becomes such by choice. 
When we look at it from this standpoint, it is 
then easy to conclude that Philathea is only a 
145 



The Philathea Bible Class 

form of the organized Bible class which, judging 
from results must evidently possess excellent 
principles not found in many other forms. 

I fully believe that the platform: "Young 
women at work for young women, all standing 
by the Bible and the Bible school and the 
church," is of divine inspiration. Thus far, no 
other women's class has such a platform, which 
may account for the fact that no other classes 
have been used of God as the Philatheas. 

A good platform is essential in any well 
regulated organization and the closer its mem- 
bership is guided by it, the better the results 
will be. 

Our platform holds the same relation to the 
Philathea movement as does the United States 
Constitution to the people of America. Many 
times has it been assailed and many the efforts 
made to change it, but it remains just the same 
a guiding star that keeps us from dashing against 
the rocks and holds us true to our course and the 
principles laid down in the beginning by our 
founder. 

It has stood the test of time because it has em- 
bodied in it the spirit of philanthropy, and places 
146 



Helps for Classes 

the Bible as the foundation upon which to build 
character. 

As long as our classes work under this platform 
they will have no trouble about the age limit. 
Young women means young women and that is 
the kind we have always wanted. It is estimated 
that three-fourths of our young men and women 
still remain out of the Bible school ; as long as one 
of these remains out we all have work to do. I 
know of no better way to get them in than to 
follow the plan indicated in the phrase: "Young 
men at work for young men." Certainly this is 
the Bible plan. The fact that "No one can 
reach a man like a man, or a woman like a 
woman," has been proved again and again. 
The sympathetic touch, the brotherly love, the 
man to man (and woman to woman) interest, 
all have their power. Since this is true, I am sure 
we can do no greater thing than to put our 
young men (or women) to work for each other. 

If one would do successful work, it is well to 
have something good to stand by and something 
good that will stand by them. 

In religious work I know no better thing to 
recommend to our young women who are at work 
147 



The Philathea Bible Class 

for young women than that they go about their 
work, "all standing by the Bible and the Bible 
school and the church." 

No one thing in the Philathea movement has con- 
tributed so largely to its success as the fact that we 
have always stood by the Bible and the Bible school. 
In fact I think I can safely say it has been the 
thing that has made the movement a success. 

Nothing in the physical, social and mental 
development is overlooked — but the Bible comes 
first. Place the Bible first and other things are 
easy — place the other things first and the Bible 
is hard. We often find those who first try to 
win young men by the ball club, social or dinner. 
A worse mistake could not be made. 

When I was young and out of Christ I con- 
sidered it a reflection on my ability to try to 
catch me with such bait. Those things belong 
to the animal nature and the person bought at 
such a price cannot be very deep. 

Observation teaches us that the classes who 
place the Bible first are the ones who hold their 
membership the longest and who develop the 
largest number of Christian workers. If we stand 
by the Bible and the Bible school, our classes 
148 



Helps for Classes 

will not get too big for the school or separate 
from the school; but will meet together with 
and be a part of the school, and will not do things 
the church and school do not like. 

The value of the platform, "Young women 
at work for young women, all standing by the 
Bible and the Bible school and the church," 
cannot be estimated; for eternity alone can tell. 
It brings out the best in the woman, and is help- 
ing to shape the destiny of our nation. 



Things You Want to Know About the Philathea 
Bible Class Movement 

The first Philathea Bible Class was organized 
in 1896 by Marshall A. Hudson, at Syracuse, 
New York. 

The Philathea idea proved popular from the 
start. With no advertising other than its own 
attractive power, the movement spread from 
school to school, city to city, State to State, and 
across the seas to foreign lands. There is now a 
World-Wide organization with about 10,000 
classes and having approximately a million 
149 



The Philathea Bible Class 

members. There are also State, County and City 
Unions, there being a uniform plan of expansion 
under the direction of the World-Wide officers. 

Baraca is the name of a similar organization 
providing for the organization of men's classes. 
The Philathea movement is conducted on the 
same general plan as the Baraca and is under 
the same general officers. 

The Philathea movement is interdenomina- 
tional — it may be introduced into any Sunday- 
school of any denomination. The lack of de- 
nominational emphasis in the name has proved 
attractive in drawing in young women who 
had drifted away from church. While the move- 
ment is interdenominational, it emphasizes and 
encourages loyalty of the class to its own de- 
nomination. Every feature of its work is in 
harmony with the noblest and best in Christian 
thought and experience. 

The word Philathea is derived from two Greek 
words and is interpreted ''Lovers of Truth." 
It is pronounced Phila-thea. 

The name Philathea is used only for women's 
classes. The women may be any age — usually 
those of about the same age are grouped in one 
I50 



Helps for Classes 

class. Girls' classes, under sixteen years of age, 
are organized as Inter-M Philatheas. 

There may be as many Philathea classes in one 
school as will provide for all the women of the 
school, church or community. 

Usually a distinguishing name is chosen for 
each class, such as Lend-a-Hand Philatheas. 
The Winner Philatheas, First Philatheas, Star 
Philatheas, King's Daughter Philatheas, Sun- 
shine Philatheas, etc. 

There is a World-Wide Philathea Class Con- 
stitution, Platform, Motto, Colors, and Text, 
which every class joining the movement is ex- 
pected to adopt. Such changes may be made 
in the Class Constitution as may be necessary 
to meet local needs and as will be in harmony with 
the aim and spirit of the general constitution. 

Platform: "Young women at work for young 
women, all standing by the Bible, the Bible school 
and the Church." 

Motto: "We Do Things." 

Colors : Light blue and white — blue for loyalty 
and white for purity. 

Text : "I can do all things through Christ which 
strengthened me." — Phil. 4 : 13. 
151 




The Philathea Bible Class 

Pin: The Philathea Emblem. 



Grip : It is necessary to join the Movement to 
learn this. 

Class Song: "We Hail the Day That Gave 
Thee Birth." 

Yell : P-H-I-L-A-T-H-E-A— PHILATHEA! 

Class Exercises 

President (rising) : "Good morning, Philatheas." 

Class (rising) : "Good morning, Miss President." 

This greeting is followed by song, prayers, lesson 
discussion, reports, announcements, and such other 
features as the class may desire to introduce. 

Philathea Benediction : — 

President: Our name? 

Response: Philatheas. 

President: Its meaning? 

Response: Lovers of Truth. 

All together: If ye continue in my word, then 
are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know 
the truth and the truth shall make you free. 

President: May the blessing of God and of His 
Son who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life be 
upon our class. 

152 



Helps for Classes 

Response : So may' it be. 

Every class session closes with a general hand- 
shaking. 

The Philathea Movement provides for the all 
around development of the young woman. There 
are social, athletic, literary, benevolent, mis- 
sionary and social service appeals — but first 
emphasis is laid upon the spiritual appeal. Bible 
study, discussing Bible truths and their applica- 
tion to everyday life problems, winning women 
to definite decision for Christian life, training 
them for practical, Christian living and service — 
these are the primary purposes of the Movement- 

The Movement has a Secret Service which 
can be introduced with wonderful results into 
any class. Full particulars upon application to 
Headquarters. 

The Philathea Movement in connection with 
its Brother Movement, the Baraca, holds an 
annual World-Wide Convention. Classes send 
one or more delegates who in turn give to the 
home class the information and inspiration gained. 

Philathea Classes usually enroll with the 
International Sunday School Association as 
represented by its State officer. 
153 



The Philathea Bible Class 

A Philathea Charter may be secured by filling 
out an application blank, which may be had for 
the asking from the World-Wide Headquarters. 

Charter enrollment entitles the class to receive 
free the monthly official paper, The Baraca 
and Philathea News, free literature and helps, 
announcements of conventions, reports of general 
progress of the work, and keeps the class in 
fraternal and inspirational touch with Baraca- 
Philathea Classes all over the world. 

The Philathea name and emblem are both 
copyrighted and cannot be used for any other 
purpose whatsoever than those above outlined. 
No class is entitled to the use of same except 
by taking out a Charter and enrolling in the 
World-Wide Union. 

To join the Philathea Movement is to come into 
fellowship with an organization of women encir- 
cling the globe — women in all walks of life, but 
united in the one great purpose of putting first 
things first — of discovering Bible truths and 
testing them out in the actual experiences of life. 

For further information address: 
WORLD-WIDE PHILATHEA UNION, 
Syracuse, New York. 
154 



Helps for Classes 

PHILATHEA NATIONAL HYMN 
(Tune: "Maryland, My Maryland") 
W. B. P. 
We hail the day that gave Thee birth, 
And welcomed Thee from heaven to earth, 
That we might know Thy royal worth, 
Hail to Thee, Philathea. 

CHORUS 

We sing of Thee, Philathea, 
May "Love of Truth," Thy guiding star, 
With light serene still shine afar, 
Shine afar, Philathea. 

Whate'er the coming days may bring, 
The songs of praise to Thee shall ring, 
And loyal lips shall ever sing,. 
Sing of Thee, Philathea. 

Shine through the gloom till night is gone, 
A beacon light across the storm, 
Seek out the lost and those that mourn, 
Shine afar, Philathea. 

Shine forth the truth, the work is thine, 
To speed the dawn, Thy gift divine, 
Then with Thy Lord forever shine, 
Ever shine, Philathea. 

(From the Baraca and Philathea Hymnal.) 

155 



The Philathea Bible Class 

The Movement with a "Secret Service" 

Marshall A. Hudson, led to Christ when 
thirty-two, after twelve years of a business life 
lived apart from God, faced the hard struggle 
of choosing between his prosperous business 
and the work for men that was opening before 
him. One by one his three crockery stores were 
given up as opportunities for winning men to 
Christ poured in, and, in 1905, all his time and 
fortune were placed at the disposal of the Master 
and given to the work of winning a million men 
through the Baraca classes. Mr. Hudson gives 
a sketch here of what God has done in these 
years, and another prominent leader in the work, 
at Mr. Hudson's request, writes of what the 
Baraca and Philathea movement stands for. 
The life of the founder is typical of the purpose 
of the classes; it is a story of life poured out for 
God to use, and so it is a story of triumph. 

(From the Sunday School Times.) 

I remember well when in 1890, in the city of 
Syracuse, N. Y., eighteen young men gathered 
in the auditorium of an unfinished church for 
their "strictly men's" Bible class. As they 

156 



Helps for Classes 

found the seats covered with dirt and kalsomine, 
they "roosted" on the backs of the seats, the 
teacher standing on the front seat. This was the 
first meeting of the Baraca Bible Class, which 
now, with the Philatheas (the women's classes), 
has over twelve thousand classes. No one that 
hot summer day would have thought, or seen the 
vision over the heads of those eighteen men, of 
such a vast movement as the World-Wide 
Baraca-Philathea Movement. To-day every de- 
nomination is using its splendid plans with suc- 
cess, and during the past year over twenty-four 
thousand young people have joined the church 
from these classes alone. Who can help but 
exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" Surely 
the eighteen young men were on holy ground 
and "they knew it not." 

The Philathea Class, for women, was formed 
in that same church, and together they have 
been used of God in giving that one church over 
nine hundred members. That church, which 
was the birthplace of the Baraca-Philathea 
movement, to-day has two thousand members, 
and has built a $400,000 building, which will be 
open night and day as "a friend for the friend- 
157 



The Philathea Bible Class 

less." When these classes were first formed the 
church numbered two hundred members. 

To-day the World-Wide Baraca and Philathea 
Union circulates from its office in Syracuse over 
one million free leaflets, constitutions, and helps 
for the formation of the Baraca and Philathea 
Bible Classes. This literature also goes into 
foreign lands, and is printed in Italian, Japanese, 
and Spanish. That the work is still in its infancy 
is shown by its rapid growth during the past 
year. In one state alone they formed either a 
Baraca or Philathea class every twenty-four 
hours of the year on an average. Over 2000 new 
classes were chartered during the past year. 

"What hath God wrought" in the individual 
lives of the women in these classes? Did it seem 
to be a little thing for a millionaire Bible class 
leader to spend a few minutes with a Baraca boy 
in prayer in the church aisle? God can do great 
things with a boy, and to-day the boy has grown 
to be one of the leading pastors of his denomina- 
tion, with over six thousand souls won to Christ. 
With his church crowded to the doors he has time 
for a big Baraca class and a fine Philathea class, 
the members of which are coming in as new church 

158 



Helps for Classes 

members every week. Nearly $100,000 has been 
expended by his church for a large institutional 
building for his Baracas and Philatheas, and these 
two classes are a live asset to his church. 

Hundreds of churches have been saved from 
disbanding, and thousands of churches have 
been revived, by these two forms of Bible class. 
God has indeed wrought wonders with the 
"Baraca and Philathea idea" and thousands of 
churches have found that the classes are the 
"spiritual life" of their church. 

Some opposition has come, but God rules, 
and there is a survival of his plans. The World- 
Wide Baraca and Philathea Union is now forming 
a vast army of "Baraca Boys" and "Philathea 
Girls" in its "Inter-M" department. Every 
Baraca and Philathea class is expected to try 
to form an "Inter-M" Baraca or Philathea for 
the boys and girls of its own church. A vision 
of the worth of the boy and girl is coming before 
our classes. 

■ "What hath God wrought" among the laboring 
men by this movement? Thousands of lives have 
been transformed. The swearing cartman was 
brought to Christ by a Baraca teacher and told 
159 



The Philathea Bible Class 

that God would put prayer in place of swear in 
his mouth. $400,000 for a Y. M. C. A. and 
$400,000 for a great church were largely financed 
by a Baraca teacher. A moving picture show was 
not put into an old church, but the church was 
bought and financed for an Italian mission by a 
Baraca. "God hath wrought" the redemption 
of over five hundred men in one class alone, and 
last year over thirty-six hundred men and women 
were reached for the church in one State in these 
classes. The lives of men have been turned and 
led into usefulness; a street loafer has been 
touched and has become one of the most valuable 
engravers on the staff of a leading New York City 
paper; a schoolboy has been saved, and to-day 
is one of the best dentists in the city; another has 
become a merchant; another a leading lawyer; 
another a banker; and many are pastors and 
missionaries. God has wrought much in the 
first class; but many other classes have a similar 
history. 

Eight hundred and sixteen members are in a 

Baraca class in a Methodist church in Virginia 

which is taught by a busy, consecrated judge; 

and they are out for a thousand men for Christ. 

160 



Helps for Classes 

Thousands of churches are rebuilt and many new 
churches built by these classes. To some, this 
great work has seemed strange, in view of its 
untrained leaders ; but to the leaders it has seemed 
as though they had nothing of importance to do 
but to follow God. God is the leader; and as new 
avenues open, to the worker's surprise, God has 
raised up a host of friends who have been seem- 
ingly waiting to co-operate with them. And they 
are led to exclaim, "Not by might, nor by power, 
but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." 

"Young men at work for young men (or young 
women at work for young women), all standing 
by the Bible, the Sunday-school, and the church." 

On this platform all Baraca and Philathea 
classes are builded, — a platform which inspires 
to noblest Christian manhood and womanhood 
through loyalty to the best things for which a 
Bible class can stand. 
/ Baraca means "Blessed" (2 Chron. 20 : 26). 
/ We aim to make happy, or blessed, all who 
come within our circle. Here, indeed, is the 
Christlike spirit, as well as much of human inter- 
est and human appeal. Philathea means "Lovers 
of truth," — lovers of the Truth that gives to its 
161 



The Philathea Bible Class 

possessors an assurance of the genuineness and 
worth of life, — the truth and happiness which 
cannot be dug from the earth, or pulled down from 
the skies, or tracked through the wilderness, 
but comes like light, and sweet breezes to those 
whose hands are busy, whose minds are open, 
whose hearts are kind. The secret of these gifts 
offered by the Baraca and Philathea classes? 
Heart union with the living Christ. 

The Baraca and Philathea Movement has 
several features which make it unique among 
the numerous Bible class movements that are 
sweeping through Christendom as the very 
breezes from heaven. The names Baraca and 
Philathea have a peculiar attractiveness all their 
own. There is enough of the mysterious about 
them to awaken curiosity, yet their inner mean- 
ing is inspirational to the initiated. The platform 
emphasizes loyalty to the Sunday-school and 
to the church, and the splendid history of the 
loyalty of its hundreds of thousands of members 
testifies that this platform was God-inspired. 
/ Yet while emphasizing loyalty to both school 
and church, the names Baraca and Philathea 
are free from any denominational association; 
162 



Helps for Classes 

and experience proves this feature to be a tremen- 
dous asset in winning young men and women 
who have become indifferent to church work. 
These classes stand as the point of contact be- 
tween the unchurched masses and the church. 
The class throws open its doors to all, — it invites 
saint and sinner to come within and seek to- 
gether the truth as the Holy Spirit reveals it to 
them while they delve into the hidden wealth 
of the Bible. Men and women cannot long 
earnestly study the Bible without receiving ever- 
enlarging visions of God's love and purpose, and 
a quickening of all that is best in the heart 
through the saving friendship of his Son. The 
Baraca and Philathea classes understand this, 
and know that after the indifferent man or 
woman is once won into their fellowship, Bible 
study and the magic influence of the secret pray- 
ers of the class members soon lead to decision for 
Christ, when church-membership and loyalty 
follow as naturally as the flower turns to the sun. 
Any member is free to unite with any church; 
the main thing aimed at is to win him to Christ, 
and the first step toward this is winning him 
into the class fellowship. 
J 63 



The Philathea Bible Class 

Another feature which gives the Baraca and 
Philathea Movement a unique place in the 
great Adult Bible Class propaganda is its pro- 
vision for the practical application of the co- 
operative spirit in the spiritual department 
of the class life. In most organized classes, the 
plan is for the class to take charge of the various 
activities of the class, placing upon the teacher 
the responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the 
members. Not so in the Baraca and Philathea 
classes. The very genius of this movement lies 
in the fact that definite provision is made for 
placing upon the members the responsibility for 
keeping the spiritual life of the class at its best, 
and for training and developing them as personal 
soul- winners. The heart-throb of the spiritual 
life of these classes is steady and strong, because 
the very heart of each class is a "Secret Service." 

In the beginning of things the "Secret Service" 
became a vital principle of the Baraca and 
Philathea movement. It is a wonderful story, 
showing in no unmistakable terms divine in- 
spiration, guidance, and approval. Briefly, the 
Secret Service is a band of the most devoted 
members of the class, who engage daily at a 
164 



Helps for Classes 

given hour in secret prayer for the members of 
the class who have not yet come into the light. 
They also meet together once a month for united 
prayer. The results of this prayer-plan read 
like a record of modern-day miracles. Not only 
is this definite plan made for enlisting all in the 
great work of soul-winning, but first emphasis is 
laid upon this feature of the work. Thus is 
generated the motor power for the various 
activities by which the class provides for all- 
round development of Christian character. 

MY SECRET SERVICE 
(Matt. 6 : 6-9) 

1. I pledge to pray for the unconverted 
members of our Bible Class every day at noon, 
this or as soon thereafter as I remember 
pledge. 

2. I pledge to make a list of those to whom 
I will speak, and to work and pray for them. 

3. I will meet the secret service members 
once a month and pray aloud with them, and 

do all in my power to help bring 

members to Christ within the next six months. 

Signed 

Dated 

Well might be mentioned here the inspirational 
slogan, "We do things," which has led these 

165 



The Philathea Bible Class 

classes to unite their forces and direct their 
energy along the lines of Christian social service; 
but this is not so much a foundation principle 
as a natural outgrowth of the spiritual power 
developed through laying first emphasis upon 
Bible study, prayer, and soul-winning. 

Added to all these is the power generated 
through success. To-day the name Philathea is 
a real asset to any class. The very names carry 
with them the touch of success. Back of any 
such class stands a strong, well-organized, re- 
ligious, fraternal, world-wide organization, many 
State organizations, and in numerous places 
county and city unions. Back of the weakest 
class is the strength of the whole. To join a 
Baraca or Philathea class to-day is to enter a 
circle of godly friendship that now encircles the 
globe. A young man or young woman leaves the 
home class, travels across the continent, and 
finds a Bible-class home in the new country. 
The Baraca or Philathea member does not 
easily drift away from home religious habits, 
or feel a stranger in a strange land. Any 
Baraca or Philathea class is "home," and the 
shelter and protection and comfort of home are 
1 66 



Helps for Classes 

immediately afforded to the stranger within the 
gates. 

The Baraca and Philathea conventions are 
an asset to a class. At these conventions one 
does not learn so much about new methods, but 
the delegates are given a never-to-be-forgotten 
vision of God and His power, and receive such an 
uplift of heart and soul as permeates into every 
class represented, and helps the workers to 
utilize any method better, and to "do things" 
in the spirit of the national motto, "I can do all 
things through Christ which strengthened me." 

The constitution is very simple. A copy may 
be obtained free of charge upon application to 
Baraca-Philathea National Headquarters, Syra- 
cuse, N. Y. The plan of work is equally adapt- 
able to the big city institutional church and the 
class in the little red school-house by the country 
roadside. Any one may form a class, and any 
one may belong. Usually the older persons are 
grouped in one class, and the younger people by 
themselves. Provision is also made for classes 
in the Intermediate department, — for the Baracas 
and Philatheas believe strongly in helping the 
boy and the girl, and in tiding them safely through 
167 



The Philathea Bible Class 

the critical adolescent period by keeping them 
loyal to the school and church. The Junior 
Baraca-Philathea classes attract the boy and 
girl and win them to this loyalty. 

The classes secure charters and pins from 
headquarters, thus receiving the advantages of 
free literature, announcements and various helps, 
and of world-wide affiliation. These classes are 
encouraged to enroll with the International 
Sunday School Association. Co-operation is 
encouraged with all movements that are in 
harmony with the Baraca and Philathea spirit 
and aim of hastening the coming of the Kingdom. 

The Baraca and Philathea Movement has al- 
ways thought less of increasing its own strength 
than of offering to a school or church the ad- 
vantages of its experience. Perhaps this accounts 
for its wonderful growth, — freely it has given, 
and wonderfully it has been blessed in the giving. 

Our World-Wide Philathea Charter 

A beautiful charter, 16 x 20 inches, has been 

prepared for all classes having a membership 

in the World-Wide Philathea Union. This 

charter reads that the class to whom it is issued 

168 



Helps for Classes 

is a member of the Union, and helpful literature 
and the official paper will be mailed free to all 
classes having a charter. When framed, and 
hung in the church or class-room, this charter is 
very attractive, and is quite valuable in increas- 
ing the class spirit and enthusiasm. The members 
become interested in other classes and are led to 
make inquiry as to their plans and workings. This 
exchange of ideas is very helpful. 

The constitution provides that each class ask- 
ing for admission into the World-Wide Baraca 
and Philathea Union shall pay a membership 
fee of $2.00, and, after the first year, one dollar 
as dues. The class will then be properly regis- 
tered, and the charter mailed at once, prepaid. 
169 









Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: May 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



